Freedom of information laws by country detail legislation that gives access by the general public to data held by national governments. They establish a "right-to-know" legal process by which requests may be made for government-held information, to be received freely or at minimal cost, barring standard exceptions. Also variously referred to as open records, or sunshine laws (in the United States), governments are also typically bound by a duty to publish and promote openness. In many countries there are constitutional guarantees for the right of access to information, but usually these are unused if specific support legislation does not exist.
Read more about Freedom Of Information Laws By Country: Introduction, Pending Legislation By Country
Famous quotes containing the words freedom of, freedom, information, laws and/or country:
“The reason artists show so little interest
In public freedom is because the freedom
Theyve come to feel the need of is a kind
No one can give them they can scarce attain
The freedom of their own material....”
—Robert Frost (18741963)
“The Forefathers dayPilgrim day. We are at the same high call here todayfreedom, freedom for all. We all know that is the essence of this contest.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (18221893)
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—Advertisement. Aired August 8, 1994 by Tom Snyder on TV station CNBC. Chicago Sun Times, p. 11 (July 24, 1994)
“Nature and Natures laws lay hid in night;
God said Let Newton be! and all was light.”
—Alexander Pope (16881744)
“I fasted for some forty days on bread and buttermilk
For passing round the bottle with girls in rags or silk,
In country shawl or Paris cloak, had put my wits astray,
And whats the good of women for all that they can say
Is fol de rol de rolly O.”
—William Butler Yeats (18651939)