Freedom of Information Day, celebrated annually on March 16, promotes public access to government information and the public’s right to know. Held during Sunshine Week, the day also celebrates the birth of our fourth President, James Madison (1751-1836). Madison is recognized as the primary drafter of the Constitution, the author of the Bill of Rights and a voice for open government.
Read more about James Madison’s views in The Federalist. For a discussion of his views, see To Secure the Liberty of the People: James Madison’s Bill of Rights and the Supreme Court’s Interpretations, by Eric T. Kasper.
The National Security Archives, located at The George Washington University, has information about freedom of information and FOIA.
Sunshine Week, March 10 – 16, 2019, highlights the importance of open access to government activities and records. It is organized by the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
