The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, establishes a code of fair information practices that governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information (PII) by Federal Executive Branch Agencies. The Privacy Act applies to Federal Agencies and living U.S. Citizens or legal aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence. The Act requires that agencies give the public notice of their systems of records by publication in the Federal Register. It also prohibits the disclosure of a record about an individual from a system of records absent the written consent of the individual, unless the disclosure is pursuant to one of twelve statutory exceptions. The Act provides individuals with a means by which to seek access to and amendment of their records, and sets forth various agency record-keeping requirements.