Sunshine Week is a tradition of celebrating the freedom of information. It falls on March 16th, which is President James Madison's birthday. Madison is the Father of the Constitution. He was also instrumental in drafting the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Madison held individual rights and freedom of information in high importance.On March 16, 1751, James Madison was born in Virginia. Madison died on June 28, 1836 at his Montpelier Estate. Madison was elected as the 4th president of the United States of America (1809-1817). In 1966, Congress passed the Freedom of Information Act into law. The FOIA day reminds us that we should learn how to use the Freedom of Information Act. It allows people to keep themselves informed by asking for any records, but requires permission from the person in question to get their personal records. Check out the FAQ from FOIA.gov.

Freedom of Information (FOI) Day is an annual event on March 16!

March 16 is James Madison's birthday. He is widely regarded as the Father of the Constitution. He believed in transparency in government.