A study by Glover, Mark, Sarah Holsen, Craig MacDonald, Mehrangez Rahman, and Duncan Simpson of the Constitution Unit, Department of Political Science/School of Public Policy, University College, London UK.
Funded by a grant from the Houston Chapter of ARMA International and the Foundation
Abstract
Freedom of Information (FOI) laws are becoming more and more common worldwide. From nine such laws 20 years ago to 66 in 2006, the legislation is often touted by supporters and campaigners as a window into government, and by legislating administrations as proof of their commitment to transparency and accountability. How it works in practice, however, is often far from the ideal vision either group holds prior to implementation. This paper explores freedom of information in practice in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, three countries that legislated at three distinct periods of FOI’s evolution.