Policy

This section provides background and analysis of various policies that could restrict the public's access to government information and infringe on their right to know important information.

WikiLeaks Frequently Asked Questions

While the answers below were developed with input and advice from a broad range of our partners, they do not represent and are not intended to be representative of a consensus view among our coalition partners, or the wider openness community.

12/20/2010

Summary of the Open Government Directive

The Administration's Open Government Directive (OGD) requires agencies to take several steps that, if well-implemented, could embed a culture of transparency into the way agencies operate. OpenTheGovernment.org, our coalition partners, and the Administration, are tracking this process, and looking for public feedback.

02/05/2010

Participate in Crafting the Open Government Directive

As promised on President Obama's first full day in office, the White House has launched a process for soliciting public input and participation in the development of Open Government Directive. The public may participate in a short three-phase process:

05/22/2009

100 Day Assessments Obama Administration: Transparency

Several coalition partners and other organizations working to increase openness and accountability issued 100 day assessments of the Obama Administration's transparency policy.

04/30/2009

Administration Statements and Policies on Openness

Below is a compilation of the Administration's openness policies.

Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government, January 21, 2009; see also the December 8th Open Government Directive

11/12/2008

Coalition Partner Transition Papers

OpenTheGovernment.org and our partners issued several papers recommending how the Obama Administration and the new Congress can increase openness and accountability.

Moving Toward a 21st Century Right-To-Know Agenda: Recommendations to President-Elect Obama and Congress. A collaboratively written government transparency report

11/07/2008

Other Action Alerts

12/05/2006

Ask Congress to shed light on the secret contract between Smithsonian and Showtime

From Carl Malamud at the Center for American Progress:

Smithsonian lobbyists are trying to paper over their exclusive 30-year sellout to Showtime, saying that the contract has posed no problems and nobody seems to be upset about it anymore.

This position is meant to convince Congress that they should rescind language in pending House bills, such as provisions that no contracts shall be issued that limit access by the public. The situation is timely since the House and Senate will soon be meeting to reconcile bills in conference.

11/21/2006

IS THERE A "SECRET HOLD" ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL?

From Society of Environmental Journalists: WatchDog TipSheet item

Publication date: Nov. 3, 2006

IS THERE A "SECRET HOLD" ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL?

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill on Sept. 21 that would greatly strengthen government openness - but one sponsor suspects it is being blocked by a parliamentary device called a "secret hold."

11/06/2006

Comment on NRC proposed rule

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposed a new rule (published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2006) on protection of "Safeguards Information" (SGI), a type of Sensitive But Unclassified information (SBU). Read NRC's press release on the proposed rule. The notice of the proposed rule is available here in the Federal Register.

11/02/2006