“freedom of”

established public access to government information. The vast bulk of information controlled by the federal government was made available under the Act, but certain exceptions still apply. These include classified national defense and foreign policy information, privileged or confidential trade and financial information, internal personnel records and documents, information concerning certain law enforcement matters, and geological and geophysical research information concerning wells. Information not exempt from public disclosure was deemed available to virtually anyone regardless of nationality or need to know. Most federal agencies issue bulletins that describe how to obtain the information they hold. In some cases a fee is charged to persons requesting documents to offset records search and duplication costs. The Act was amended in 2007 and 2009.

: the right guaranteed especially by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to join with others either in personal relationships or as part of a group usually having a common viewpoint or purpose and often exercising the right to assemble and to free speech

: a power or right to contract and freely determine the provisions of contracts without arbitrary or unreasonable legal restrictions especially as guaranteed under the contract clause of Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution

: freedom of speech

: the right especially as guaranteed under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to practice one's religion or exercise one's beliefs without intervention by the government and to be free of the exercise of authority by a church through the government see also free exercise clause

: the right to express information, ideas, and opinions free of government restrictions based on content and subject only to reasonable limitations (as the power of the government to avoid a clear and present danger) especially as guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution see also free speech compare censorship, prior restraint

: the right to publish and disseminate information, thoughts, and opinions without restraint or censorship as guaranteed under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

: the right of a merchant ship to travel any waters except territorial waters either in peace or war