STATUS REPORT
government. An open government thus invites talent from outside of government, giving policymakers the benefit of other sources of expertise, as well as of popular wisdom. Openness likewise discourages waste and misuse of government resources, that is to say, of taxpayer dollars. By revealing where scarce government resources are put to poor use, open government promotes the efficient reallocation of those resources.
In turn, a more democratic and efficacious government improves the lives of its citizens. Information provided by government can help inform the electorate. Information from federal agencies can help the public make more informed choices about daily decisions, from the choice of consumer products to decisions affecting their health, housing, and transportation concerns. And this is the true test: A more democratic and effective government is one that truly improves the well-being of those whom government is supposed to serve. By making open government a high priority, the Administration has sought to improve the everyday lives of the American people—more inclusively, more effectively, and more economically.
The Methods of Open Government
To that end, the Administration's open government efforts have emphasized three themes: Transparency, Participation, and Collaboration.
Transparency. Transparency means providing the public with information about their government's activities. It contemplates disclosure about, for example, what federal agencies have done or will do. Transparency's premise is that citizens are entitled to know what, how, and why government does what it does.
Participation. Citizens are entitled to more, however, than a transparent view of their government from the outside looking in. Participation emphasizes citizens' voice in public affairs, recognizing that public officials stand to benefit from the perspective of expert and nonexpert knowledge that resides outside of government. Participation is fostered by expanding citizens' opportunities to express their views about policy alternatives, and in ways beyond voting in elections.
Collaboration. Collaboration further erodes the us-versus-them divide between citizens and government by taking participation to another level. Citizens are capable, after all, of more than simply registering their views about policy alternatives defined in advance. They can usefully help shape the government's agenda. They can also help determine even the tools and methods by which public policy goals are pursued. Where government is collaborative, citizens become true partners with government, in both the identification and pursuit of public goals.
These three mechanisms—transparency, participation, and collaboration—constitute the fundamental framework for achieving a stronger democracy and a more effective government. They also link the Administration's many open government efforts.
Major Open Government Activities
The Administration has not promoted open government simply as an abstract proposition. Instead, it has taken specific steps to make the federal government more transparent, participatory, and collaborative.
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