America.gov - Engaging the world

This law, commonly known as FOIA, gives U.S. citizens the right to access most government documents, regardless of reason. Today, FOIA is a model to many nations worldwide.

As part of President Obama’s commitment to transparency, the United States is using new technologies to enable citizens to better access and use government information.

In the American judicial system, it is often the 12 citizens who make up a jury that decide a defendant’s fate. Learn how Americans carry out this important responsibility.

This document, more than 200 years old, is the framework by which America is governed today. The words are rarely modified, but their applicability changes throughout history.