Government Information Quarterly
Volume 4, Number 1
CONTENTS
Discussion Forum
Canadian Documents Librarians in
Professional Associations
Peter I. Hajnal .................................................... 1
Guest Editors: Harold C. Relyea and Tom Riley
Introduction
Harold C Relyea and Tom Riley ...................................... 9
National Security and Information
Harold C. Relyea .................................................. 11
National Security Controls on
Information and Communication in Australia
Hon. Richard Alston ............................................... 29
Executive Secrecy, National Security, and
Freedom of Information in the United Kingdom
David Goldberg ................................................... 43
National Security Controls, Information,
and Communication in the United States
Steven L Katz ..................................................... 63
Technology, Public Policy, and the Changing Nature
of Federal Information Dissemination:
Overview of a New Office of Technology Assessment Study
Fred B. Wood ..................................................... 83
Contributors .............................................................. 97
Forthcoming......................................................99
Comparison of Services for the
Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications
Peter Hernon .....................................................101
Reviews
David C. Heisser, Editor
The American Indian Index:
A Directory of Indian Country, USA
By Gregory W. Frazier, edited by Randolph J. Punley
Reviewed by Robert A. Trennert ..................................... 107
American Prince, American Pauper:
The Contemporary Vice Presidency in Perspective
By Marie D. Natoli
Reviewed by W. Landis Jones .................................... 108
Cities of the World: A Compilation of Current Information on
Cultural, Geographical, and Political Conditions in the
Countries and Cities of Six Continents, Based on the
Department of State's "Post Reports" (Second Edition)
Edited by Margaret Walsh Young and Susan L. Stetier
Reviewed by David Mill ........................................................109
Encyclopedia of American Political History
Edited by Jack P. Greene
Reviewed by Joel H. Goldstein ..................................................110
Encyclopedia of Government Advisory Organizations, 1986-87
Edited by Denise M. Allard
Reviewed by Stephen M. Hayes ..........................................................111
Guide to the Publications of Interstate
Agencies and Authorities
Compiled by Jack Sulzer and Roberta Palen
Reviewed by Marie L Clark ........................................................... 113
Historical Dictionary of Censorship in the United States
By Leon Hurwitz
Reviewed by Susan E. Parker ............................................................. 114
An Open Forum on the Provision of Electronic
Federal Information to Depository Libraries
Reviewed by Sandra K. Peterson ................................................................ 115
Reference Services in Archives
Edited by Lucille Whalen
Reviewed by Robert Johnson-Lally ......................................................... 117
State Legislative Sourcebook 1986:
A Resource Guide to Legislative Information in the Fifty States
By Lynn Hellebust
Reviewed by Sarah Holterhoff ..................................... 118
State Legislatures: A Bibliography
By Robert U. Goehlert and Frederick W. Musto
Reviewed by Robert V. Williams .................................... 119
Subject Guide to U.S. Government Reference Sources
By Judith Schiek Robinson
Reviewed by Joel Zucker .......................................... 121
Thinking in Time: The Uses of History
for Decision Makers
By Richard E. Neustadt and Ernest R. May
Reviewed by Peter Hernon ........................................ 122
Top Secret/Trade Secret:
Assessing and Safeguarding Restricted Information
By Ellis Mount and Wilda B. Newman
Reviewed by Leo McAuliffe ....................................... 123
List of Titles Received ................................................. 124
Guidelines for Reviews ................................................ 125
National Security
and Information
HAROLD C. RELYEA
In recent times, references to national security in political parlance, policy, and law, particularly in the United States, appear to have become more frequent and visible. But, what does the concept mean? This review identifies and considers various interpretations, explores the U.S. policy history of the concept, and briefly examines the significance of the term for information matters. Ultimately, it appears that both national security and the nation would benefit from more precise explanation of the concept and better operation of constitutional checks and balances when it is invoked.
National security controls on information and communication have been realized in Australia through various intelligence agencies and acts of the Parliament which, to varying degrees, restrict public access to documents regarded as essential to the .national interest."This overview describes these entities and laws as well as the role of the Freedom of Information Act. It concludes that, in stark contrast to the United States, there has been a 'freeing-up' of national security controls on information and communication in Australia in recent years.
This article, in general, is concerned with the relationship between executive secrecy, national security, and freedom of information in the United Kingdom. Within that context, it looks, first, at the reaction and attitude of the Campaign for Freedom of Information in the U.K. after its inception in 1984; second, it considers the issue in light of the right of the individual in the U.K. to petition the European Commission of Human Rights; and, third, it looks at a recent national court decision which, in involving the law of confidence, seems to crystallize a trend in the U.K. which makes formulating legislative reforms to the Official Secrets Acts less fruitful.
National security controls on information and communication in the United States arise from a variegated body of Executive Branch measures, statutes, and court decisions, as well as shifting opinions concerning the application of such authorities. After a discussion of the current national security atmosphere in the country, a brief history of Federal controls will be followed by an in-depth presentation of the current framework of controls on information and communication. Lastly, this review concludes with a discussion of the major implications of current conditions upon constitutional rights and democratic values in the United States.
Use of information technology-such as electronic document filing, computerized
databases, optical disks, electronic mail, electronic remote printing, and electronic
bulletin boards-could revolutionize the public information functions of the Federal
government. Technology is providing many new opportunities for Federal information collection, maintenance, and dissemination, but is also raising new issues, as well
as exacerbating old ones, such as equity of access to Federal public information, the
pfivate sector role in Federal electronic information activities, and institutional
responsibility for Federal information collection and dissemination.
Two congressional committees have asked the Office of Technology Assessment
(OTA) to study relevant technology and policy issues, including possible future roles
for the Government Printing Office, Federal executive agencies, libraries, and private
firms. The OTA study process includes in-depth research and extensive outreach, and
provides several opportunities for the participation of individuals and organizations
interested in these topics.
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the OTA, Technology
Assessment Board, or Congress. Inquiries concerning OTA's assessment of 'Technology, Public
Policy, and the Changing Nature of Federal Information"should be directed to Dr. Wood at the
OTA address.