Dissertation Information for Woojin Noh NAME: - Woojin Noh
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Florida State University (USA) (2011)
ADVISORS: - Charles McClure
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Gary Burnett - Richard Feiock - Chris Hinnant
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: The Clinton and George W. Bush administrations' FOIA policies: The presidents' influences on FOIA policies
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) policy formulation and implementation by analyzing the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations' FOIA policies. The problem this study addresses is why the Clinton and Bush administrations pursued different FOIA policies even though it appears that "an informed citizenry" was a basic FOIA principle shared by federal FOIA employees through both administrations. This study assumes that the President's comments and statements greatly affect the actions and decisions of the Executive Branch.
This study used the principal agent theory, which identifies "hierarchical control," "goal conflict" and "difficulty in monitoring" as significant concepts. To answer the research questions, this study employed multi-qualitative methods, which are mainly non-reactive or unobtrusive research methods including content analysis, secondary analysis and document analysis. The author collected quantitative data from the OIP newsletter, the FOIA Update (1993 to 2000) and the FOIA Post (2001 to 2006), distributed quarterly in paper format until 2000.
The FOIA was not a main agenda item of the Clinton and Bush administrations, although both Presidents Clinton and Bush showed some interest in the FOIA. The president's role in FOIA policy formulation is more than symbolic; Presidents Clinton and Bush had different political philosophies regarding the FOIA. Clinton considered the FOIA an essential facet of democracy, whereas Bush considered that the FOIA could be limited for national security, effectiveness of government performance, and personal privacy.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks seemed to have added impetus to extend the Bush administration's restrictive FOIA policy, accelerating the administration's drive to regain presidential power. The Ashcroft memorandum and the Card memorandum seemed to change the climate of FOIA implementation from encouraging information release to protecting national security information.
The similarities in FOIA policy between the two administrations are issuing FOIA directives, user-friendly ways, and acknowledgement of the importance of national security, effective government performance, and privacy. The differences in FOIA policy between the two administrations are opposite FOIA initiatives, different political environments, and structural changes for FOIA organization.
Finally, the main implications of this study are that the president's philosophy on the FOIA had effects on federal FOIA policies; high level officers and political appointees were also able to affect FOIA policy formulation and implementation; middle-level FOIA officers had a critical role in FOIA implementation, a dual role in which they served both as principal and as agent; FOIA culture seemed to affect federal departments' FOIA implementation; insufficient and poor guidance have been a major hindrance to FOIA implementation; and Congress is one of the most important principals in FOIA policy formulation.
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MPACT Scores for Woojin Noh A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2012-07-29 16:24:56
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