Final answer:
The federal law known as FOIA stands for the Freedom of Information Act, which allows public access to federal agency records with certain exemptions for privacy and security.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal law known as FOIA stands for the Freedom of Information Act.
Enacted in 1966, the Freedom of Information Act provides journalists and the general public the right to request records from federal agencies, which are required to comply unless the information falls under one of nine exemptions. These exemptions include matters of national security, trade secrets, and personal privacy, among others. When an agency receives a FOIA request, it must respond and provide the requested information unless it falls under these exemptions.
Alongside the necessity of transparent governance, FOIA plays a critical role in enabling public access to governmental information, thus enhancing democratic engagement and oversight. The Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, aimed to promote openness in the executive branch, which had been historically guarded with information, especially before the backdrop of Cold War secrecy and the Vietnam War.