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Creating a Federal Advisory Committee in the Executive Branch

Description: This report report provides a brief overview on how Congress can establish federal advisory committees, and provides some considerations as to why a federal advisory committee may or may not be an appropriate mechanism to assist a particular policy or funding question. The report also explores why Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) may or may not be appropriate for application to particular advisory committees. It presents data on the number of active FACA committees established by Congress … more
Date: December 9, 2016
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy & Burgat, Casey
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Inspectors General: History, Characteristics, and Recent Congressional Actions

Description: This report provides background on the statutory creation of federal offices of inspector general (OIGs) and provides historical context for contemporary debates about the strengths and limitations of the offices. Federal inspectors general (IGs) are authorized to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within their affiliated federal entities; to execute their missions, OIGs conduct and publish audits and investigations--among other duties.
Date: June 2, 2016
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy & Greene, Michael
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Access to Government Information in the United States: A Primer

Description: This report offers an introduction to the four access laws and provides citations to additional resources related to these statutes. It includes statistics on the use of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and on litigation related to FOIA. In addition, this report provides some examples of the methods Congress, the President, and the courts have employed to provide or require the provision of information to one another, as well as a list of resou… more
Date: March 18, 2016
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy & Greene, Michael
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Freedom of Information Act Legislation in the 114th Congress: Issue Summary and Side-by-Side Analysis

Description: This report provides a side-by-side comparison of two bills relevant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), using the versions that have passed each of their originating congressional chambers. The report also provides context related to bill amendments and language additions that occurred between bill versions, when applicable. Finally, the report provides analysis of certain provisions of the bills.
Date: April 21, 2016
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Federal Cybersecurity Workforce: Background and Congressional Oversight Issues for the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security

Description: This report examines congressional oversight of two strategies undertaken by Congress and the executive branch to strengthen the federal cybersecurity workforce: initiatives to define and identify the federal cybersecurity workforce, and hiring and pay flexibilities applicable to cybersecurity positions at the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: Francis, Kathryn A. & Ginsberg, Wendy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Advisory Committees: An Introduction and Overview

Description: Federal advisory committees—which may also be labeled as commissions, councils, or task forces—are established to assist the executive branch in deliberating and, in some cases, helping to solve complex or divisive issues. Congress, the President, or an agency head may establish a federal advisory committee to render independent advice or provide policy recommendations. This report offers a history of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), examines its current requirements, and provides dat… more
Date: October 28, 2015
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Government Transparency and Secrecy: An Examination of Meaning and Its Use in the Executive Branch

Description: This report examines the statutes, initiatives, requirements, and other actions that make information more available to the public or protect it from public release related to Government Transparency and Secrecy.
Date: November 14, 2012
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy; Carey, Maeve P.; Halchin, L. Elaine & Keegan, Natalie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Access to Government Information In the United States: A Primer

Description: The U.S. Constitution makes no specific allowance for any one of the three branches of the federal government to have access to information held by the others. No provision in the U.S. Constitution expressly establishes a procedure for public access to government information. Congress has legislated various public access laws. Among these laws are two records access statutes, The Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, and two meetings access statutes, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a… more
Date: August 31, 2009
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Creating a Federal Advisory Committee in the Executive Branch

Description: This report provides a brief overview on how Congress can establish federal advisory committees, and provides some considerations as to why a federal advisory committee may or may not be an appropriate mechanism for a particular policy or funding question. It presents data on the number of active committees established by Congress with special emphasis on the committees established in FY2014. This report concludes by presenting a list of the federal advisory committees currently proposed for es… more
Date: October 19, 2015
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Access to Government Information In the United States

Description: The Constitution of the United States makes no specific allowance for any one of the co-equal branches to have access to information held by the others and contains no provision expressly establishing a procedure for, or a right of, public access to government information. Nonetheless, Congress has legislated various public access laws. These include two records access statutes — the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act — and two meetings access statutes — the Federal Advisory Com… more
Date: March 13, 2008
Creator: Relyea, Harold C. & Ginsberg, Wendy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Changing Postal ZIP Code Boundaries

Description: This report details the information related to the change of postal Zip code boundaries. The contents include background, concerns, Postal service attempts to resolve, etc.
Date: May 13, 2008
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Advisory Committees: A Primer

Description: This report provides information about a Primer on the Federal Advisory Committees. This report set forth definitions and requirements for creating commissions as required by FACA.
Date: July 16, 2008
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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