Many have reported that because of the mountain of statutory rules/regulations that have been passed over the last years government agency representatives have become increasingly more intrusive and/or abusive.
There is a public servant questionnaire that wise and informed people have been using when representatives from government agencies come knocking on their door or walk up to them in their yard. Handing the government representative this questionnaire and requesting they fill it out before you consider their request/demand (or let them in your house) can halt a difficult encounter before it begins.
This questionnaire requires they provide the information necessary to actually hold them personally accountable for their interactions.
When you hand the agency representative the form, be polite and tell them the form is a safeguard and a reassurance that they are not an imposter. Always be polite as the purpose of the form is to avoid an unpleasant encounter (and an unlawful intrusion) if possible – not create an escalating incident. The information they put on the form can help make a case that their actions are legal – but not lawful under state Constitutions. After all, we are living in a legal duality.
Cf. http://anticorruptionsociety.com/about/public-servant-questionnaire/
PUBLIC SERVANT'S QUESTIONNAIRE
Public Law 93-579 states in part: "The purpose of this Act is to provide certain
safeguards for an individual against invasion of personal privacy by requiring Federal
agencies...to permit and individual to determine what records pertaining to him are
collected, maintained, used, or disseminated by such agencies." The following questions
are based upon that act and are necessary in order that this individual may make a
reasonable determination concerning divulgence of information to this agency.
Fill out the form completely. If any question does not apply, mark the answer with N/A
or Not applicable. Do not leave any question blank.
Public Servant Information
1. Full Legal Name:
__________________________________________________________
2. Residence Address
__________________________________________________________
City __________________________State _______ Zip ____________
Department Information
3. Name of department, bureau, or agency by which public servant is employed:
__________________________________________________________
City __________________________State _______ Zip ____________
Supervisor's name:
__________________________________________________________
4. Mailing address
__________________________________________________________
City __________________________State _______ Zip ____________
Public Servant Duty
5. Will public servant uphold the Constitution of the United States?
__________________________________________________________
6. Did public servant furnish proof of identity?
__________________________________________________________
7. What was the nature of proof?
__________________________________________________________
8. Will public servant furnish a copy of the law or regulation which authorizes this
investigation?
__________________________________________________________
9. Will the public servant read aloud the portion of the law authorizing the questions they will ask?
__________________________________________________________
Nature of Investigation
10. Are the answers to the questions voluntary or mandatory?
__________________________________________________________
11. Are the questions to be asked based upon a specific law/regulation, or are they being
used as a discovery process?
__________________________________________________________
12. What other uses may be made of this information?
__________________________________________________________
13. What other agencies may have access to this information?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
14. What will be the effect upon me if I should choose not to answer any part or all of
these questions?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Basis for Investigation
15. Name of person in government requesting that this investigation be made.
__________________________________________________________
16. Is this investigation 'general' or is it 'special'?
__________________________________________________________
17. Have you consulted, questioned, interviewed, or received information from any third
party relative to this investigation?
__________________________________________________________
18. If so, the identity of such third parties:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Expected Results of Investigation
19. Do you reasonably anticipate either a civil or criminal action to be initiated or
pursued based upon any of the requested information?
__________________________________________________________
Agency Information
20. Is there a file of records, information, or correspondence relating to me being
maintained by this agency? ______________ If yes, which?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
21. Is this agency using any information pertaining to me which was supplied by another
agency or government source?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
22. May I have a copy of that information? ______________ If not, why not?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
If so, how may I obtain a copy of that information?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
23. Will the public servant guarantee that the information in these files will not be used
by any department other than the one by whom he is employed? __________
If not, why not?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Affirmation
If any request for information relating to me is received from any person or agency, you
must advise me in writing before releasing such information. Failure to do so may subject
you to possible civil or criminal action as provided by the act.
I swear (affirm) that the answers I have given to the foregoing questions are complete and
correct in every particular.
Printed name: ___________________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________________________
Date: ________(month)_________(day)___________________(year)
First Witness Printed Name: ________________________________________
First Witness Signature: ________________________________________
Second Witness Printed Name: ______________________________________
Second Witness Signature: ________________________________________
Authorities for Questions:
1,2,3,4 In order to be sure you know exactly who you are giving the information to. Residence and business addresses are needed in case you need to serve process in a civil or criminal action upon this individual.
5 All public servants have taken a sworn oath to uphold and defend the constitution.
6,7 This is standard procedure by government agents and officers. See Internal Revenue Manual, MT-9900-26, Section 242.133.
8,9,10 Title 5 USC 552a, paragraph (e) (3) (A)
11 Title 5 USC 552a, paragraph (d) (5), (e) (1)
12,13 Title 5 USC 552a, paragraph (e) (3) (B), (e) (3) (C)
14 Title 5 USC 552a, paragraph (e) (3) (D)
15 Public Law 93-579 (b) (1)
16 Title 5 USC 552a, paragraph (e) (3) (A)
17,18 Title 5 USC 552a, paragraph (e) (2)
19 Title 5 USC 552a, paragraph (d) (5)
20,21 Public Law 93-579 (b) (1)
22 Title 5 USC 552a, paragraph (d) (1)
23 Title 5 USC 552a, paragraph (e) (10)