NationStates Jolt Archive

The Government of Mephi has proposed the Freedom Of Information Act to the UN Forum. The free dissemination of information is vital to the furtherment of democracy, as well as an excellent way to monitor the government's activities. The people of Mephi implore all UN Delegates to endorse this proposal so that it may reach a quorum before the full UN. All comments are welcome and any support is greatly appreciated.

Director of International Relations,
Republic of Mephi.

can you include a copy of the proposal

: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
ADDRESSING ALL UN MEMBER NATIONS;

RECOGNIZING the need to foster democracy by ensuring public access to government agency RECORDS and INFORMATION in all member nations;

MAXIMIZING the usefulness of agency records and information collected, maintained, used, retained, and disseminated by the Governments of member nations;

OBSERVING that the FOIA is a valuable means through which any person can learn how their Government operates;

UNDERSTANDING that the FOIA will lead to the DISCLOSURE of waste, fraud, abuse, and wrongdoing in the member Governments;

AWARE that the FOIA will lead to the identification of unsafe consumer products, harmful drugs, and serious health hazards;

TAKING NOTE that government agencies increasingly use computers to conduct agency business and to store publicly valuable agency records and information;

RECOMMENDING that member government agencies should use new technology to enhance public access to agency records and information.

IN ADDITION The FOIA is to provide for public access to information in an electronic, or otherwise computer accessible format.

CONCLUDING that without free dissemination of information to the public, government agencies are able to commit illegal and immoral acts and;

FURTHER CONCLUDING that these acts will have severe consequences upon the public without its knowledge or understanding.

EACH UN Government agency shall make publicly available upon request, the following forms, records and shall uphold policies including;

(1) A DESCRIPTION and INDEX of major information and record locator systems maintained by the agency; and

(2) A HAND BOOK for obtaining various types and categories of public information from the agency.

(3) RULES OF PROCEDURE, descriptions of forms available or the places at which forms may be obtained, and instructions as to the scope and contents of all papers, reports, or examinations;

(4) FINAL OPINIONS, including concurring and dissenting opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication of cases, and;

(5) RECORDS shall be provided by agency WITHOUT ANY CHARGE.

EXEMPTIONS--The FOIA shall provide access to government agency records (or parts of those records) except those protected from release by six specific exemptions.

(1)(A) Documents and records specifically authorized under criteria established by a Government order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and (B) are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Government order;

(2) Related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency.

(3) Documents and records specifically exempted from disclosure by statute, provided that such statute requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on the issue, or establish particular criteria for withholding.

(4) Trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential;

(5) Personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

(6) Contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions.

This is pretty thorough. Have you researched the US Freedom of Information Act? I'm just curious as to how much of your language was inspired/provoked by existing laws on the subject.

Oh, and I like the proposal. I'll make sure my regional delegate endorses it.

As with the previous times you've tried to get this to the floor, you have my approval.

(3) Documents and records specifically exempted from disclosure by statute, provided that such statute requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on the issue, or establish particular criteria for withholding.

This section has me a little baffled, but other than that it's a great proposal.