Agencies generate an enormous variety of information and records that are potentially of interest to the public, including while engaged in administrative processes such as rulemaking, licensing, investigation, enforcement, and adjudication, as well as in litigation when courts review agency actions. Making information and records publicly available can promote transparency, enhance efficiency by reducing the need for people to file requests for agency records and agencies to respond to such requests, and support the legitimacy and accountability of agency decisions.
Various statutes govern what information and records agencies must make publicly available, either proactively or on request, and how they must make them publicly available. Relevant statutes include the Freedom of Information Act, Federal Register Act, Administrative Procedure Act, E-Government Act, and Government in the Sunshine Act. Some statutes, such as the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act, also require or authorize agencies to withhold certain information and records under certain circumstances.
ACUS has adopted dozens of recommendations and produced many other resources to help agencies manage public access to the information and records they generate. The Statement of Principles for the Disclosure of Federal Administrative Materials provides a general overview of ACUS recommendations on the subject. Select a category below to access individual recommendations, reports, and other resources:
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2023-1, Proactive Disclosure of Agency Legal Materials
- Recommendation 2022-6, Public Availability of Settlement Agreements in Agency Enforcement Proceedings
- Recommendation 2021-6, Public Access to Agency Adjudicative Proceedings
- Recommendation 2020-5, Publication of Policies Governing Agency Adjudicators
- Recommendation 2018-5, Public Availability of Adjudication Rules
- Recommendation 2017-1, Adjudication Materials on Agency Websites
- Recommendation 89-8, Agency Practices and Procedures for the Indexing and Public Availability of Adjudicatory Decisions
- Recommendation 72-1, Broadcast of Agency Proceedings
- Recommendation 69-6, Compilation of Statistics on Administrative Proceedings by Federal Departments and Agencies
Publications and Reports
- Elysa Dishman, Public Availability of Settlement Agreements in Agency Enforcement Proceedings (Nov. 30, 2022)
- Jeremy Graboyes & Mark Thomson, Public Access to Agency Adjudicative Proceedings (Nov. 21, 2021)
- Leigh Anne Schriever, Public Availability of Information About Adjudicators (Nov. 23, 2020)
- Todd Phillips, Public Availability of Adjudication Rules (Sep. 28, 2018)
- Daniel J. Sheffner, Adjudication Materials on Agency Websites (Apr. 10, 2017)
- Margaret Gilhooley, The Availability of Decisions and Precedents in Agency Adjudications: The Impact of the Freedom of Information Act Publication Requirements (1989)
- Robert W. Bennett, Broadcast Coverage of Administrative Proceedings, 67 Nw. U. L. Rev. 528 (1972)
- Report of the Committee on Licenses and Authorizations in Support of Recommendation No. 14 (Compilation of Statistics on Administrative Proceedings by Federal Departments and Agencies) (1969)
Information Interchange Bulletins
- IIB-032, Public Availability of Adjudication Materials (Sept. 2023)
News Releases and Blog Posts
- Leigh Anne Schriever, Publication of Policies Governing Agency Adjudicators (May 25, 2021) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
- Aaron L. Nielson, Accessing Agency Procedure (May 31, 2019) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2020-5, Publication of Policies Governing Agency Adjudications
- Recommendation 2019-8, Public Identification of Agency Officials
- Recommendation 2019-7, Acting Agency Officials and Delegations of Authority
- Recommendation 89-6, Public Financial Disclosure by Executive Branch Officials
- Recommendation 68-2, U.S. Government Organization Manual
Publications and Reports
- Leigh Anne Schriever, Public Availability of Information About Adjudicators (Nov. 23, 2020)
- Bobby Ochoa, Public Identification of Agency Officials (Listing Agency Officials) (Nov. 13, 2019)
- Anne Joseph O’Connell, Acting Agency Officials and Delegations of Authority (Dec. 1, 2019)
- Thomas D. Morgan, Public Financial Disclosure by Federal Officials: A Functional Approach, 3 Geo. J. Legal Ethics 217 (1989)
- Report of the Committee on Information, Education, and Reports in Support of Recommendation No. 2 (U.S. Government Organization Manual)
News Releases and Blog Posts
- Aaron L. Nielson and Bobby Ochoa, Identifying Agency Leaders (June 30, 2020) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2019-7, Acting Agency Officials and Delegations of Authority
- Recommendation 68-2, U.S. Government Organization Manual
Publications and Reports
- Anne Joseph O’Connell, Acting Agency Officials and Delegations of Authority (Dec. 1, 2019)
- Report of the Committee on Information, Education, and Reports in Support of Recommendation No. 2 (U.S. Government Organization Manual)
Information Interchange Bulletins
- IIB-003, Acting Officials Under the Vacancies Act (Feb. 2020)
News Releases and Blog Posts
- Anne Joseph O'Connell, Acting Officials and Delegated Authority (June 29, 2020) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2020-6, Agency Litigation Webpages
- Recommendation 2019-8, Public Identification of Agency Officials
- Recommendation 2019-7, Acting Agency Officials and Delegations of Authority
- Recommendation 2019-3, Public Availability of Agency Guidance Documents
- Recommendation 2018-7, Public Engagement in Rulemaking
- Recommendation 2018-6, Improving Access to Regulations.gov’s Rulemaking Dockets
- Recommendation 2018-5, Public Availability of Adjudication Rules
- Recommendation 2017-1, Adjudication Materials on Agency Websites
- Recommendation 2013-5, Social Media in Rulemaking
- Recommendation 2011-8, Agency Innovations in E-Rulemaking
- Recommendation 2011-1, Legal Considerations in e-Rulemaking
Publications and Reports
- Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook, E-Government Act of 2002
- Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook, Freedom of Information Act
- Mark Thomson, Report on Agency Litigation Webpages (Nov. 24, 2020)
- Bobby Ochoa, Public Identification of Agency Officials (Listing Agency Officials) (Nov. 13, 2019)
- Anne Joseph O’Connell, Acting Agency Officials and Delegations of Authority (Dec. 1, 2019)
- Cary Coglianese, Public Availability of Agency Guidance Documents (May 15, 2019)
- Michael Sant’Ambrogio & Glen Staszewski, Public Engagement with Agency Rulemaking (Nov. 19, 2018)
- Todd Rubin, Regulations.gov and the Federal Docket Management System (Dec. 1, 2018)
- Todd Phillips, Public Availability of Adjudication Rules (Sep. 28, 2018)
- Daniel J. Sheffner, Adjudication Materials on Agency Websites (Apr. 10, 2017)
- Michael Herz, Using Social Media in Rulemaking: Possibilities and Barriers (Nov. 21, 2013)
- Cary Coglianese, Federal Agency Use of Electronic media in the Rulemaking Process (Dec. 5, 2011)
- Bridget C.E. Dooling, Legal Issues in e-Rulemaking: A Report to the Administrative Conference of the United States (Mar. 17, 2011)
Information Interchange Bulletins
- IIB-002, Availability of Information on Agency Websites (Jan. 2020)
News Releases and Blog Posts
- Cary Coglianese, Making Guidance Available to the Public (Oct. 30, 2019) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
- Cary Coglianese & Todd Rubin, Improving Regulations.gov (May 29, 2019) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
- Aaron L. Nielson, Accessing Agency Procedure (May 31, 2019) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2019-3, Public Availability of Agency Guidance Documents
- Recommendation 2011-5, Incorporation by Reference
- Recommendation 76-2, Strengthening the Information and Notice-Giving Functions of the Federal Register
- Recommendation 68-4, Consumer Bulletin
Publications and Reports
- Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook, Federal Register Act
- Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook, Freedom of Information Act
- Cary Coglianese, Public Availability of Agency Guidance Documents (May 15, 2019)
- Emily S. Bremer, Incorporation by Reference in an Open-Government Age
- Edward A. Tomlinson, Publication in the Federal Register of Interpretations of General Applicability and Statements of General Policy (May 28, 1975)
- Report of the Office of the Chairman in Support of Recommendation No. 4 (Consumer Bulletin) (1968)
Information Interchange Bulletins
- IIB-001, Federal Register Publication Requirements (Dec. 2019)
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2014-1, Resolving FOIA Disputes Through Targeted ADR Strategies
- Recommendation 95-6, ADR Confidentiality and the Freedom of Information Act
- Recommendation 95-1, Application and Modification of Exemption 8 of the Freedom of Information Act
- Statement #12: Statement on Resolution of Freedom of Information Act Disputes (1987)
- Recommendation 83-4, The Use of the Freedom of Information Act for Discovery Purposes
- Recommendation 82-1, Exemption (b)(4) of the Freedom of Information Act
- Recommendation 81-1, Procedures for Assessing and Collecting Freedom of Information Act Fees
Publications and Reports
- Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook, Freedom of Information Act
- Mark H. Grunewald, Reducing FOIA Litigation Through Targeted ADR Strategies (Apr. 28, 2014)
- Mark H. Grunewald, The Freedom of Information Act and Confidentiality Under the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (1995)
- Roy A. Schotland, Reexamining the Freedom of Information Act's Exemption [8] (1995)
- Mark H. Grunewald, Administrative Mechanisms for Resolving Freedom of Information Act Disputes (Dec. 15, 1986)
- Edward A. Tomlinson, Use of the Freedom of Information Act for Discovery Purposes (1983)
- James T. O'Reilly, Regaining a Confidence: Protection of Business Confidential Data Through Reform of the Freedom of Information Act (1982)
- Russell B. Stevenson, Jr., Protecting Business Secrets Under the Freedom of Information Act: Managing Exemption 4 (1982)
- John E. Bonine, Public-Interest Fee Waivers Under the Freedom of Information Act (1981)
Information Interchange Bulletins
- IIB-011, Freedom of Information Act Basics (Feb. 2021)
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2020-6, Agency Litigation Webpages
Publications and Reports
- Mark Thomson, Report on Agency Litigation Webpages (Nov. 24, 2020)
Information Interchange Bulletins
- IIB-009, Recordkeeping in Informal Rulemaking (Dec. 2020)
Blog Posts and News Releases
- Kristin Hickman & Mark Thomson, Improving Agency Litigation Pages (June 4, 2021) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2021-6, Public Access to Agency Adjudicative Proceedings
- Recommendation 2014-2, Government in the Sunshine Act
- Recommendation 2011-7, The Federal Advisory Committee Act-Issues and Proposed Reforms
Publications and Reports
- Jeremy Graboyes & Mark Thomson, Public Access to Agency Adjudicative Proceedings (Nov. 21, 2021)
- Reeve T. Bull, The Government in the Sunshine Act in the 21st Century (Mar. 10, 2014)
- Reeve T. Bull, The Federal Advisory Committee Act: Issues and Proposed Reforms (Sep. 12, 2011)
- James T. O'Reilly, Federal Advisory Committee Act: Inhibiting Effects Upon the Utilization of New Media in Collaborative Governance & Agency Policy Formation (Apr. 15, 2011)
Information Interchange Bulletins
- IIB-017, Government in the Sunshine Act Basics (Nov. 2021)
Current Projects
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2021-7, Public Availability of Inoperative Agency Guidance Documents
- Recommendation 2019-3, Public Availability of Agency Guidance Documents
- Recommendation 2018-5, Public Availability of Adjudication Rules
- Recommendation 2011-5, Incorporation by Reference
- Recommendation 71-3, Articulation of Agency Policies
Publications and Reports
- Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook, Federal Register Act
- Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook, Freedom of Information Act
- Todd Rubin, Public Availability of Inoperative Agency Guidance Documents (Nov. 22, 2021)
- Cary Coglianese, Public Availability of Agency Guidance Documents (May 15, 2019)
- Emily S. Bremer, Incorporation by Reference in an Open-Government Age
- Brice McAdoo Clagett, Information Action—Adjudication—Rule Making: Some Recent Developments in Federal Administrative Law, 1971 Duke L.J. 51 (1971)
Information Interchange Bulletins
- IIB-023, Guidance Documents (May 2022)
- IIB-008, Incorporation by Reference (July 2020)
Current Projects
News Releases and Blog Posts
- Cary Coglianese, Making Guidance Available to the Public (Oct. 30, 2019) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
- Aaron L. Nielson, Accessing Agency Procedure (May 31, 2019) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 69-3, Publication of a “Guide to Federal Reporting Requirements”
Publications and Reports
- Report of the Committee on Information, Education, and Reports in Support of Recommendation No. 11 (Publication of a “Guide to Federal Reporting Requirements”)
Assembly Recommendations
- Recommendation 2023-2, Virtual Public Engagement in Agency Rulemaking
- Recommendation 2020-2, Protected Materials in Public Rulemaking Dockets
- Recommendation 2018-7, Public Engagement in Rulemaking
- Recommendation 2018-6, Improving Access to Regulations.gov’s Rulemaking Dockets
- Recommendation 2015-1, Promoting Accuracy and Transparency in the Unified Agenda
- Recommendation 2014-4, “Ex Parte” Communications in Informal Rulemaking
- Recommendation 2013-5, Social Media in Rulemaking
- Recommendation 2013-4, Administrative Record in Informal Rulemaking
- Recommendation 2013-3, Science in the Administrative Process
- Recommendation 2011-8, Agency Innovations in E-Rulemaking
- Recommendation 2011-2, Rulemaking Comments
- Recommendation 2011-1, Legal Considerations in e-Rulemaking
- Recommendation 79-4, Public Disclosure Concerning the Use of Cost-Benefit and Similar Analyses in Regulation
- Recommendation 77-3, Ex Parte Communications in Informal Rulemaking Proceedings
- Recommendation 76-2, Strengthening the Information and Notice-Giving Functions of the Federal Register
- Recommendation 72-1, Broadcast of Agency Proceedings
Publications and Reports
- Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook, Federal Register Act
- Federal Administrative Procedure Sourcebook, Freedom of Information Act
- Christopher S. Yoo, Protected Materials in Public Rulemaking Dockets (Nov. 23, 2020)
- Michael Sant’Ambrogio & Glen Staszewski, Public Engagement with Agency Rulemaking (Nov. 19, 2018)
- Todd Rubin, Regulations.gov and the Federal Docket Management System (Dec. 1, 2018)
- Curtis W. Copeland, The Unified Agenda: Proposals for Reform (Apr. 13, 2015)
- Esa L. Sferra-Bonistalli, Ex Parte Communications in Informal Rulemaking (May 1, 2014)
- Michael Herz, Using Social Media in Rulemaking: Possibilities and Barriers (Nov. 21, 2013)
- Leland E. Beck, Agency Practices and Judicial Review of Administrative Records in Informal Rulemaking (May 14, 2013)
- Wendy Wagner, Science in Regulation: A Study of Agency Decisionmaking Approaches Feb. 18, 2013)
- Cary Coglianese, Federal Agency Use of Electronic Media in the Rulemaking Process (Dec. 5, 2011)
- Steven J. Balla, Public Commenting on Federal Agency Regulations: Research on Current Practices and Recommendations to the Administrative Conference of the United States (Mar. 15, 2011)
- Bridget C.E. Dooling, Legal Issues in e-Rulemaking: A Report to the Administrative Conference of the United States (Mar. 17, 2011)
- Michael S. Baram, Cost-Benefit Analysis: An Inadequate Basis for Health, Safety, and Environmental Decisionmaking, 8 Ecology L.Q. 473 (1980)
- Nathaniel L. Nathanson, Ex Parte Communications in Informal Rulemaking Proceedings (1977)
- Edward A. Tomlinson, Publication in the Federal Register of Interpretations of General Applicability and Statements of General Policy (May 28, 1975)
- Robert W. Bennett, Broadcast Coverage of Administrative Proceedings, 67 Nw. U. L. Rev. 528 (1972)
Information Interchange Bulletins
- IIB-009, Recordkeeping in Informal Rulemaking (Dec. 2020)
- IIB-005, Disclosure of Critical Factual Material Supporting Proposed Rules (D.C. Circuit) (Apr. 2020)
Current Projects
News Releases and Blog Posts
- Christopher S. Yoo & Kellen McCoy, Transparency and Privacy in Public Rulemaking Dockets (May 25, 2021) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
- Cary Coglianese & Todd Rubin, Improving Regulations.gov (May 29, 2019) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)
- Michael Sant’Ambrogio & Glen Staszewski, Public Engagement in Rulemaking (June 5, 2019) (originally published on The Regulatory Review)