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In the United States, the principle of government transparency is deeply embedded in the legal system at every level -- federal, state, and local. Because government operates on behalf of the people and is funded by taxpayer dollars, citizens have a fundamental right to access information that their government collects and maintains. This principle is codified in laws like the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at the federal level and state sunshine laws in all 50 states.

The scope of public records is remarkably broad. It encompasses real estate deeds, court filings, voter registrations, business incorporation documents, professional licenses, campaign finance reports, government payroll data, patent filings, and vital statistics. These records have been collected by government agencies for centuries to support the administration of justice, the regulation of commerce, the protection of public health and safety, and the functioning of democratic elections.

OpenDataUSA aggregates information from dozens of these authoritative sources to create a comprehensive, searchable database. Our data collection process involves obtaining records from federal agencies, state government offices, county clerks, and municipal departments, then standardizing, deduplicating, and cross-referencing the data to produce accurate search results. Each data source has its own update frequency and format -- federal databases like the USPTO patent database publish structured data files on regular schedules, while state-level records such as voter registrations and professional licenses are obtained through official data portals with varying update cycles.

To learn more about the specific data sources we use and the legal framework that governs public records access, explore our Data Sources section or read our in-depth guide to understanding public records.