Research Catalog

Title

Transparent government : what it means and how you can make it happen / Donald Gordon ; foreword by Joseph Ferguson.

Author

Gordon, Donald, 1949-

Publication

Amherst, New York : Prometheus Books, 2014.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

273 pages : illustrations; 23 cm

Summary

"Provides a blueprint for more effective government and greater citizen participation. "Transparency" has become the new mantra of politicians and pundits alike. But what does it mean in practice? In this informative, clearly written book community activist Donald Gordon defines the essential features of a transparent government and makes a convincing case that it is critical for a healthy and maturing democracy and the basic liberties we all take for granted. Gordon first presents a clear definition of transparency in government and why we should pursue it, followed by a review of the history of transparency in American politics. He then makes the case for how transparency serves as the foundation for active civic engagement. The heart of the book is Gordon's "Transparency Index." The author examines best practices in measuring transparency and then isolates the critical factors that can be used to assess any type of government and its commitment to transparency. In addition, a scoring system is presented that allows for comparison of government entities. For anyone who wishes that government were more effective and responsive, this book shows how these goals can be achieved"--

Subject

• Transparency in government > United States
• Government information > Access control > United States
• Public administration > United States
• POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / Political Advocacy
• POLITICAL SCIENCE / Government / General
• United States > Politics and government

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Part 1 Making the Case for Transparency in Government -- Chapter 1 What Transparency Is and Why It Matters 25 -- Chapter 2 A History of Transparency in American Politics 51 -- Chapter 3 How Transparency Arouses Civic Engagement 87 -- Part 2 Measuring Transparency in Government -- Chapter 4 An Analysis of Best Practices in Measuring Transparency 137 -- Chapter 5 Critical Factors in Measuring Transparency 191 -- Chapter 6 The Transparency Index 217.

ISBN

• 9781616149192 (pbk.)
• 1616149191 (pbk.)
• 9781616149208 (ebk.) (canceled/invalid)

LCCN

^^2013043637

OCLC

854613912

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library