Happy Freedom of Information Day!

That's right Squeamies! Today is James Madison's 269th birthday and in honor of the Father of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, we celebrate the government's requirement to provide, at least to some degree, transparency. Madison had this crazy idea that the size and power of the ruling body should be limited and the governed not be burdened by an intrusive federal power. As a young man, Madison defended many victims of religious oppression and became a protege of Thomas Jefferson in the Virginia legislature. Madison went on to author large parts of the Constitution, including the section that set up the then revolutionary three branch method of government and implemented the check and balance system. At first, Madison opposed the Bill of Rights because he feared that the federal government might claim any power that was not specifically limited in the Bill. When he saw that resistance was futile and that the Bill of Rights was going to happen, he worked tirelessly to ensure that they were the specific list of personal liberties that we know today and that they in no way expanded the oversight of Congress, the President or the court system. Madison fully believed that government was there to serve its citizens and not the other way around, and that it was in the best interest of the country to have an informed people. In his honor, on Freedom of Information Day, the American Library Association passes out the Madison Awards, given to those who best champion the public's right to know and access to public information.

Now, of course, there are severe limitations on what the government is willing to hand over to you, but it is comforting to know that you can't be punished for asking. For the most part, so long as it isn't a matter of national security and it doesn't fall under that hazy cloud of executive privilege, those records are open to you. So celebrate today by asking for anything that interests you. You may genuinely need the information, or it may just be because you can, but make your government work for you. It is there for your benefit and you should take advantage of it. You can find a link below to the Department of Justice which provides information on how to go about obtaining the knowledge you desire. If you are interested in state records, those fall under your particular state's own Freedom of Information Act, which may differ significantly from the federal version. You will need to search for the state information you desire; try looking under "open records law," "public records act," of "sunshine law," if you are having issues as each state has given it its own title. Good luck and have fun! Exercise your rights so we don't lose them!

Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act