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Analysis Of The FOIA, Sunshine, And Sunset Law

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Government policy-making and administration in the modern era have grown increasingly expensive and complex. For this reason, the government has implemented the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), sunshine laws, and sunset laws for individuals who desire to hold the government responsible for its promises and obligations. Milakovich and Gordon (2013) provides an in-depth analysis of the FOIA, sunshine, and sunset laws to emphasize accountability among administrators and policymakers.
Freedom of Information Act Enacted in 1966 by Congress, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the federal law where citizens may gain access to the full or partial disclosure of a wide variety of records and files from all federal agencies of the government. …show more content…

Commissions and officials in policy decision-making should be making them in the “sunshine”. Unlike closed-door meetings, the sunshine laws allow greater transparency and accountability in the government. It allows interested individuals and groups to observe and participate in these meetings. The public can protest and testify. With this, agencies must also provide notice of formal or informal meetings to allow interested parties to prepare for the agenda. Through this, the government's decision-making processes may be improved. However, sunshine laws contain ten exemptions from its requirements. This includes meetings about court cases and personnel …show more content…

If not done in a timely and appropriate manner, the “sunsets” and the law becomes automatically nullified or voided. The purpose of sunset laws is to aim toward laws that are not passed forever. Congress must legislate the law to bring it back into existence. This is significant because federal agencies, programs, and laws are funded for a specific purpose, which might not be needed after they fulfill their purpose. The effectiveness of law implementation will be evaluated and debated to come to a conclusion. Getting renewed should be no trouble if the agency or program is proven useful. Furthermore, the sunset laws allow for transparency and accountability for the laws that are enacted. It ensures that government funds are dispersed to agencies, programs, and laws that serve a purpose for the

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