Government Information Practices
Abstract
This compilation of cases and materials is designed to provide students with primary source material concerning government information practices. The right of the American public to be informed about the operation of its government has been established. Through the Freedom of Information Act, Congress has sought to ensure that this right is preserved. Of equal importance to American citizens is their right of privacy. Only in recent years has it become evident that this right is subject to infringement by the record-keeping practices of government. The Privacy Act of 1974 is the first comprehensive legislative scheme designed to assure individuals that their privacy will not be improperly eroded by such practices. The first part of this casebook is devoted to a study of public access to agency records under the Freedom of Information Act and the need to protect legitimate commercial and governmental interests. The second part of the book focuses on the individual's right of privacy as affected by the federal government's collection, use, and dissemination of information. It includes material related to the key provisions of the Privacy Act and the "privacy exemption" of the Freedom of Information Act This casebook does not purport to promulgate Department of the Army policy or to be in any sense directory. The organization and development of legal materials are the work product of the members of The Judge Advocate General's School faculty and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Judge Advocate General or any governmental agency. The words "he," "him," and "his" when used in this publication represent both the masculine and feminine gender unless otherwise specifically stated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA377491