Transparency Projectof Georgia

Government transparency directly related to our liberty

In his book “Transparent Government: What it Means and How you can Make it Happen,” Donald Gordan quotes Patrick Henry’s words from the June 9, 1788 Virginia Constitutional Convention:

“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.”

Gordon, who teaches political history at Northwestern University writes, “To practice democracy in a republic requires that we not abdicate our role as citizens.”

The author elaborated on Henry’s strong advocacy for transparency in the new government when he said “…to cover with the veil of secrecy the common routine of business, is an abomination in the eyes of every intelligent man, and every friend to this country.”

In fact, Gordon suggests that it would not be inaccurate to refer to Patrick Henry as “the father of transparency in government.”

Gordon also reminds the reader of the words of Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Edward Carrington that are often quoted by journalists:

“The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the later.”

However, despite Jefferson’s appraisal of newspapers as a Fourth Estate, providing a system of checks and balances for a fledgling republic, Gordon is quick to point out that the founding fathers placed the primary responsibility for holding government in check squarely on the shoulders of citizens themselves.

In Part I: Making the Case for Transparency in Government, he writes:

“Jefferson believed in the superiority of newspapers over government. He would have been proud of the work of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, reporters for the Washington Post, in uncovering the cover-up of the Watergate scandal. But Jefferson also understood that ‘the people are the only censors of their governors.’ The media certainly play a major role in keeping government honest, but in the end it is We the People who are inevitably responsible for keeping our democracy. It is better to have a thousand eyes than just a few focus on the workings of our government.”

Gordon calls the words “We the People,” the three most significant words in the history of the United States, explaining, “We are at once the government and the governed.”

Not giving ordinary people access to government meetings or documents is taking away what rightfully belongs to them.

It is stealing their liberty.

All the business government does, is the people’s business.

As a newspaper, these principles guide us, motivate us and temper us in the commission of our duties.

As citizens, these principles, and the words of our founders, should rally us and embolden us to hold government accountable at all times.

We encourage our county commissioners, chairman, members of the board of education, mayors and city council members to never lose sight of the very basic core values that are part and parcel of our constitutional republic and essential to our freedom as Americans.

— Director James Zachary

Frequently Asked Questions

How is government transparency connected to liberty?

Government transparency and liberty are inextricably linked because citizens cannot effectively exercise their freedoms when government operations are hidden from public view. As Patrick Henry argued at the 1788 Virginia Constitutional Convention, the liberties of a people can never be secure when the transactions of their rulers are concealed.

The founding fathers understood that a self-governing republic requires an informed citizenry. Without access to information about what government is doing, citizens cannot make informed decisions at the ballot box, cannot hold officials accountable for their actions, and cannot meaningfully participate in the democratic process.

When government operates in secrecy, it creates a power imbalance between the governed and the governing. Officials who operate behind closed doors are effectively placing themselves above the citizens they were elected to serve. This undermines the fundamental principle that government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed.

Transparency laws — including open meetings acts and open records acts — exist to protect this connection between transparency and liberty. They ensure that citizens retain their rightful position as the ultimate authority in a democratic republic, and that government remains accountable to the people it serves.

What did the founding fathers say about government transparency?

The founding fathers were outspoken advocates for government transparency, recognizing it as essential to the survival of the republic they were creating. Patrick Henry, in particular, argued forcefully for open government, stating that secrecy in government is “an abomination in the eyes of every intelligent man.”

Thomas Jefferson expressed his views on the importance of an informed public in his famous letter to Edward Carrington, where he declared that if forced to choose between government without newspapers or newspapers without government, he would prefer the latter. This statement underscores the critical role that public access to information plays in maintaining democratic governance.

The Declaration of Independence itself reflects these principles, establishing that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” This foundational document makes clear that the people are the source of government authority, not the other way around. Meaningful consent requires that citizens have access to information about how their government operates.

Political historian Donald Gordon notes that the founders placed the primary responsibility for holding government accountable on citizens themselves, not just on the press. While newspapers play a vital role, it is ultimately “We the People” who must ensure that government remains transparent and responsive to the public interest.

Why should citizens care about open government?

Citizens should care about open government because it directly affects their rights, their community, and their quality of life. When government operates transparently, citizens can ensure that public resources are being used wisely, that elected officials are acting in the public interest, and that decisions are being made through fair and democratic processes.

Open government also serves as a deterrent against corruption and abuse of power. When officials know that their actions are subject to public scrutiny, they are more likely to act responsibly and ethically. Conversely, secrecy creates opportunities for self-dealing, favoritism, and other forms of misconduct that harm the public.

Participation in government oversight is a civic responsibility, not just a right. The founding fathers envisioned a republic where citizens actively engage with their government, attend meetings, review records, and hold officials accountable. Abdicating this role allows government to drift away from its intended purpose of serving the people.

In practical terms, the decisions made by local government bodies — county commissions, school boards, city councils — have a direct impact on everyday life. From property taxes to school policies to public safety, these decisions affect every citizen. Open government ensures that these decisions reflect the will of the community, not just the preferences of a few elected officials.

What is the role of citizens in maintaining government transparency?

Citizens play the primary role in maintaining government transparency. While the media and advocacy organizations contribute significantly to oversight, the founding fathers placed the ultimate responsibility for holding government accountable squarely on the shoulders of ordinary citizens.

This responsibility takes many forms. Citizens can attend public meetings to observe their government in action and voice concerns. They can file open records requests to obtain documents that shed light on government activities. They can support and participate in organizations dedicated to promoting transparency.

Citizens also have a responsibility to educate themselves about their rights under open meetings and open records laws. Many people are unaware that they have the legal right to attend government meetings, record proceedings, and access public documents. Understanding these rights is the first step toward exercising them effectively.

Perhaps most importantly, citizens must resist the tendency to look the other way when government operates in secrecy. Complacency is the greatest threat to transparency, as officials who face no public scrutiny have little incentive to operate openly. Active citizen engagement is the foundation upon which all other transparency mechanisms depend.

What does it mean that government belongs to the governed?

The principle that government belongs to the governed is one of the most fundamental concepts in American democracy. It means that elected officials are not rulers or authorities in their own right; they are representatives who serve at the pleasure of the people. Their power is borrowed, not inherent.

This concept is expressed directly in the Declaration of Independence, which states that governments are “instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” In other words, every action a government body takes must ultimately be traceable to the will of the people it represents.

In practical terms, this means that every meeting held by a government body is the public’s meeting, every document created by a government agency is the public’s document, and every decision made by elected officials must ultimately be answerable to the citizens who put them in office. Government transparency laws are the legal mechanism that enforces this principle.

When elected officials act as if they know better than the citizens they represent, they are fundamentally misunderstanding their role. Public service is not autocratic rule. Being elected to office does not confer authority or privilege; it confers responsibility to represent the will of the people openly, honestly, and transparently.