The GOVERNANCE blog

It’s been 50 years since the U.S. Congress adopted the Freedom of Information Act, which provides access to documents held by federal agencies. Since 1966, Congress has adopted many other laws designed to promote openness. But has the United States gone too far, undermining the capacity of public officials to solve our major problems?  Bruce Cain of Stanford University argues that US government is now too open.  Read his commentary.  And Charles Lewis of American University disagrees.  Read his commentary.  Cain and Lewis will have an in-person debate on this question at the University of Missouri at 7pm CST on March 15.  Watch the webcast here.  A recording of the webcast will be available after the debate so that it can be used in classrooms along with the commentaries.  Free access to the commentaries will be available until May 30.