What was the first law to establish the legal right of access by citizens to government information?

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is recognized as the first significant legislative measure in the United States that established the legal right for citizens to access government information. Enacted in 1966, FOIA was designed to promote transparency and accountability in government by allowing individuals to request access to records from any federal agency. This law marked a pivotal shift towards greater openness, enabling citizens to better understand how their government operates and to hold it accountable.

FOIA sets out the specific procedures through which requests for information can be made and outlines the obligations of federal agencies in responding to these requests. It has been amended several times to strengthen access rights and improve the process, hence the references to amendments in the options. However, the original act itself laid the foundational legal framework for citizens' rights to obtain information, distinguishing it from other laws that may focus on privacy or the management of public records without the same commitment to transparency.