Accessing your government

Your right to know


April 3, 2005

Your government keeps records on you, your child's day-care center, your doctor, your favorite restaurant and how your elected officials spend their time and taxpayers' money. The information available is impressive, and with rare exception, you have a right to look.

Your greatest challenge is knowing how and where to find the records and, sometimes, persuading public officials to turn over copies. Some information is a few computer mouse clicks away, while other information may require a trip to a government building.

Reporters are accustomed to using two powerful laws – the California Public Records Act and the federal Freedom of Information Act – to access public documents. The same laws they use are on your side.

Compiled by Anne Krueger and Karen Kucher
with assistance from library researcher Merrie Monteagudo