James Madison gave eloquent expression to the urgent need for popular information in a democracy. Sweden adopted the Freedom of the Press Act in 1766 and the United States passed the Freedom of Information Act in 1966. In France, freedom of information and the accountability of public servants are an integral part of constitutional rights. The freedom of information law in Japan came into effect in 2001. In Germany the federal government passed a freedom of information law in 2005, and six Bundeslander (provincial governments) also have their own laws on the subject. The Supreme Court of India, in the State of Uttar Pradesh vs. Raj Narain case, observed that the right to information is implied in the right to freedom of speech. In 2005 the Right to Information Act was passed in India to give citizens secure access to information held by public authorities, promoting transparency and accountability.