The essay comprehensively explores the freedom of information in the United States,tackling such issues as the basic legal framework,historical evolution,amendments to the FOIA,the scope of the law,the exemptions,procedures and remedy,implementation of the law and current discussion after the Sept.11 terrorist attack.The article also compares American system with other Western countries and makes certain conclusive remarks in connection with institutional building,implying in some occasions that American way of handiling business in this regard is far better than in other countries. The author points out,more than once,that the freedom of information is the underpinning of American democracy,and free flow of government information is pivotal for the market mechanism,though there are still lots of areas for improvement in the United States.
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