Sarah Nigbor

Each year in mid-March, newspapers and media outlets across the country celebrate Sunshine Week, and this year is the 20^th anniversary.

Sunshine Week, which coincides with James Madison’s birthday (1751) each year, is a nonpartisan collaboration among groups in the journalism, civic, education, government and private sectors that shines a light on the importance of public records and open government. Madison, our nation’s fourth president, was a driving force behind the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and presented the first version of the Bill of Rights to Congress. He is credited with promoting freedom of information and the following quote: “A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both.”

Sunshine Week helps educate the public, journalists, lawmakers, and others on the right to know in the U.S. states and federal government. Former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said, “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.”

According to the website sunshine.org, the goal is to urge and spread awareness around open government and the need for “sunlight.” This mission seems more important now than ever, with the political turmoil in our country and the speed at which decisions are being made at the federal level. We as taxpayers have a right to know what our government is doing, not just this week, but the whole year.

Sunshine Week is about empowering citizens to understand how their government works, to reinforce the foundations of democracy. It’s not just for journalists; knowledge is essential for civic engagement and holding our elected officials accountable. They are elected to serve the people, not private interests. Transparency serves as a check on power and helps deter corruption, which is reason enough to dedicate ourselves to “sunshine” in government.

So what can you do? Encourage lawmakers to pass robust laws that enhance transparency and keep government accountable. Familiarize yourself with opens records laws. I recommend the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council website (https://wisfoic.org). Their mission is to “safeguard access to information that citizens must have to act responsibly in a free and democratic society.” They believe “a representative government is dependent on an informed electorate, all persons are entitled to the most information possible regarding the affairs of government and the actions of public officers and employees, and that only in the most exceptional cases may access be denied.”

According to the WFIC, governmental meetings must be open to the public except in “narrowly prescribed situations,” such as certain personnel matter or negotiations in a competitive process, such as purchasing a property or accepting a bid. However, governmental bodies sometimes go into closed sessions so they can speak more candidly without fear the public will hear what they say.  

WFIC says, “Meetings of public bodies should almost always be open to the public. Exemptions to this rule should be construed as narrowly as possible, and detailed notice of closed sessions should always be provided. Governmental bodies should record their closed sessions so any claims of an improper closed session can be objectively reviewed.”

There is much more to know about open meetings and government laws. Make sure you’re informed. Our democracy depends on it.