1. GSA Office of Citizen Services and Communications
Intergovernmental Solutions Newsletter
Transparency and
Open Government
Spring 2009
Transparency in Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Transparency in Government
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive By Darlene Meskell
Departments and Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Director, Intergovernmental Solutions
Recovery.gov Reveals Details GSA Office of Citizen Services and Communications
of the Stimulus Spending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Democratization of Data
ewly elected President Barack Obama has taken bold steps to
N
Unfettered Access to Data
Can Transform Government? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 inaugurate an era of government openness and transparency. In
Technology as a Game-Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 one of his first official acts, the President issued a
Information as a Public Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government, affirming
Citizen Views On Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 his commitment to achieving an “unprecedented level of openness in
government.” Making known his belief that transparency is a
Practices at Work in Government fundamental responsibility of a democratic government, he called for the
Texas Websites Improve Accountability . . . . . .13 creation of an Open Government Directive that would require agencies
Georgia’s Commitment to Customer to reveal their inner workings and make their data public.
Service and Good Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Transparency 2.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 A commitment to government accountability is at the heart of this
Measuring E-Government 2.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 message. By allowing citizens to “see through” its workings and
E-discovery, Transparency investigate whether or not their leaders and organizations have met
and Culture Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 their expectations, the government brings the public into its inner circles
AGA Opens the Doors of Government and empowers citizens to contribute to decision-making. As citizens
to the Citizens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 gain knowledge and understanding, their trust in government begins to
Shedding Light on Corruption grow.
India: Revolutionizing Land Records . . . . . . . . .23 Providing government data to citizens in a meaningful way will require a
Fighting Corruption, While Building culture change, away from one where data are stored away for internal
Energy Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 purposes to one that looks broadly at how data can be made accessible
Through a Glass, Darkly. What do we for re-use by the public. The federal website Recovery.gov Reveals
mean by transparency in government? . . . . . . .28
Details of the Stimulus Spending on the $787 billion American
Transparency in Government Begins Outside .29
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It will put the data out in useable form
The Collaborative Government so that people can slice, dice and mash it up to gain meaningful
Beyond Transparency in Government . . . . . . . . .31
information about how government is working.
Get Ready for Wiki-Government . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 These data feeds create opportunities to look at government programs
Building the Digital Public Square . . . . . . . . . . .35 in new ways that could never have been imagined by the data collectors.
Open Government Serves Citizens . . . . . . . . . .37 The District of Columbia’s Apps for Democracy Contest drew upon the
public’s imagination to make D.C. data more useful to constituents.
Under the leadership of then-CTO Vivek Kundra, the District sponsored
a contest seeking creative applications that use D.C. government data.
The results were astonishing. The 47 entries submitted to Apps for
Democracy within only 30 days “produced more savings for the D.C.
government than any other initiative,” according to Kundra, who has
since been named federal CIO.
Continued on next page...
The Intergovernmental Solutions Newsletter is produced twice a year by the Intergovernmental
Solutions Division, GSA Office of Citizens Services and Communications; Lisa Nelson, Editor.
Send comments and suggestions to: lisa.nelson@gsa.gov.

2. The president’s January 21, 2009, memo on
transparency and open government viewed
as a word cloud.
http://www.wordle.net/
Making government data available is government’s need to look beyond local government is to provide
just the beginning of the process. To transparency and accountability when citizens with timely, easy to
reach the president’s goal, agencies delivering data to increase worker understand information on how their
must solicit public feedback to productivity and citizen engagement. how their taxpayer dollars are being
identify information of greatest use to Technology as a Game Changer spent. Texas Websites Improve
the public, expanding citizen looks at the transformational Accountability describes the state’s
participation in public policy possibilities of inviting greater three initiatives aimed at improving
decision-making. It will bring a new participation and collaboration from government accounting, spending and
wave of remarkable technological citizens. Information as a Public transparency. The State of Georgia’s
applications that will have Good presents examples of Web- gateway to information and key
government and citizens working based geospatial technologies that documents about how the state
together in partnership. The resulting are leveraging government data as a spends tax dollars and other revenues
network within which citizens and public good. The results of a survey is outlined in Georgia's
their government can work together to conducted by Rutgers University on Commitment to Customer Service
solve problems, will change the way the different dimensions regarding and Good Government.
citizens and governments interact. what citizens are looking for in the
New Zealand is moving strategically
way of transparency are detailed in
to use online tools to engage citizens
Democratization of Data Citizens’ Views on Transparency.
and learn their views on matters
Information technology has made important to them. Online
data available to everyone. This
Practices at Work in Government communities are viewed as partners
democratization of data unveils the Web 2.0 practices are changing public working to improve the quality of
internal workings of government and services now. Governments are government in Transparency 2.0.
sets in motion the wheels of providing citizens with extraordinary Recognizing the need for a new
transformation. Unfettered Access tools that inform them and others approach in the maintenance of
to Data that Can Transform with similar interests. One of the federal records, E-discovery,
Government examines the fastest growing trends in state and
Continued on next page...
2

3. Transparency and Culture Openness and transparency are government using collaborative
Change lays out a framework for necessary for effective government technologies.
changes that will enhance access to oversight and accountability. The idea
Even today, Open Government
public documents. Current that transparency does not guarantee
Serves Citizens, as Maryantonett
methodology for measuring accountability is explored in Through
Flumian, the founding head of Service
eGovernment progress is nearing the a Glass, Darkly: What do we mean
Canada illustrates, offering numerous
end of its usefulness. Measuring E- by transparency in government?
examples of transparent government
Government 2.0 presents a new The need for government to tap into
from the public and private sectors in
benchmarking approach for the expertise of others and withstand
the U.S. and around the world.
measuring e-government’s return on public scrutiny is discussed in
Following her lead, this newsletter
investment. The Association of Transparency in Government
offers more of the many stories of
Government Accountants establishes Begins Outside. As U.S. Supreme
how cooperation and innovative
a baseline for understanding public Court Justice Louis Brandeis so aptly
technology are being used to confront
attitudes with regard to transparency put it “sunlight is the best
the huge changes required to create
and accountability in AGA Opens disinfectant.”
an open and participative
the Doors of Government to
government. The range of subjects is
Citizens. Collaborative Government just the tip of the iceberg, and shows
The issues of culture and policy need how better communications—on all
Shedding Light on Corruption to be addressed before major levels—must be a key priority for
Increasing transparency and citizen progress can be made toward a truly government in the future.
participation goes a long way toward collaborative government. President Obama’s January 21 open
undermining the problem of Transparency in Government government memoradum calls for
corruption. Transparency in the oil, speaks to theses challenges and the transparency, participation and
gas and mining industry has been need to engage citizens to solve collaboration in government. These
gaining traction over the last decade. today’s complex problems. Get three concepts have been underlying
Fighting Corruption while Ready for Wiki-Government looks American democracy since the start,
Building Energy Security looks at at the millennial generation’s use of but never have they been so central to
the paradox of resource-rich countries social networks. This generation will a presidential vision. With advanced
that are impoverished because of change the shape of America’s technologies and creative use of the
corruption and conflict. In India, land governing processes to one where Internet, a commitment to open
records are vital documents for both some decisions will be made by government will go a long way toward
farmers and the government. They are crowds. giving the public control of the levers
used to prove ownership and are of power, and encouraging
Government in ancient Athens was
required for numerous administrative widespread participation in the civic
conducted in the public square.
functions. India: Revolutionary life of the nation. I
People met there to debate civic
Land Records reveals the incredible
issues and drive policy decisions.
impact computerization of land
Building the Digital Public Darlene Meskell is the Director,
records has had on the livelihood of
Square describes how the District of Intergovernmental Solutions, GSA. For
small farmers. additional information contact
Columbia is re-creating the public
square to bring people closer to their lisa.nelson@gsa.gov
3

4. Memorandum for the Heads of
Executive Departments and Agencies
SUBJECT: Transparency and Open Government
y Administration is society, and public officials benefit
M committed to creating an
unprecedented level of
openness in Government. We will
from having access to that dispersed
knowledge. Executive departments
and agencies should offer Americans
work together to ensure the public increased opportunities to
trust and establish a system of participate in policymaking and to
transparency, public participation, provide their Government with the
and collaboration. Openness will benefits of their collective expertise
strengthen our democracy and and information. Executive
promote efficiency and effectiveness departments and agencies should
in Government. also solicit public input on how we
can increase and improve
Government should be transparent.
opportunities for public participation
Transparency promotes
in Government.
accountability and provides
information for citizens about what Government should be collaborative.
their Government is doing. Collaboration actively engages
Information maintained by the Americans in the work of their
Federal Government is a national Government. Executive departments
asset. My Administration will take and agencies should use innovative
appropriate action, consistent with tools, methods, and systems to for an Open Government Directive, to
be issued by the Director of OMB,
Information maintained by the Federal that instructs executive departments
and agencies to take specific actions
Government is a national asset. implementing the principles set forth
in this memorandum. The
law and policy, to disclose cooperate among themselves, across independent agencies should comply
information rapidly in forms that the all levels of Government, and with with the Open Government Directive.
public can readily find and use. nonprofit organizations, businesses,
Executive departments and agencies and individuals in the private sector. This memorandum is not intended to,
should harness new technologies to Executive departments and agencies and does not, create any right or
put information about their should solicit public feedback to benefit, substantive or procedural,
operations and decisions online and assess and improve their level of enforceable at law or in equity by a
readily available to the public. collaboration and to identify new party against the United States, its
Executive departments and agencies opportunities for cooperation. departments, agencies, or entities, its
should also solicit public feedback to officers, employees, or agents, or any
I direct the Chief Technology Officer, other person.
identify information of greatest use
in coordination with the Director of
to the public. This memorandum shall be published
the Office of Management and
Government should be participatory. Budget (OMB) and the Administrator in the Federal Register. I
Public engagement enhances the of General Services, to coordinate
Government’s effectiveness and the development by appropriate
improves the quality of its decisions. executive departments and agencies, BARACK OBAMA
Knowledge is widely dispersed in within 120 days, of recommendations
4

5. Recovery.gov Reveals Details States were also expected to create
their own Recovery Act pages providing
data and information from, and links to,
of the Stimulus Spending every participating state agency,
locality and municipality in the state.
The states’ certifications and their
By John R. Murphy recovery pages are linked to a state
Deputy Program Manager
Recovery.gov
section of Recovery.gov.This map
shows Recovery.gov’s links to state
sites at the beginning of April 2009.
ecovery.gov is the government generate information about the flow of
R website created by the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(Recovery Act) to track $787 billion in
the stimulus funds.
The website will allow users to track
where the money is going, search by
Additional information will be posted
on and linked to Recovery.gov as the
multi-year spending program is
implemented. Over time, it will
federal funds Congress appropriated to demonstrate the impact of
state or Congressional district, look up
stimulate the economy. It is introduced transparency in government as citizens
names of Federal contractors or other
on the home page: use it increasingly to build their own
recipients of Federal dollars, and send
The Recovery Act “provides for in comments, thoughts, ideas, understanding of how their taxpayer
unprecedented levels of transparency questions, and responses to anything dollars are being spent.
and accountability so that you will be on the site. Recovery.gov is overseen by the
able to know how, when, and where your Recovery Accountability and
Recovery.gov also features different
tax dollars are being spent. … This Transparency Board, which reports to
federal programs, updated information
website, Recovery.gov, will be the main the Vice President and is responsible
about news related to the stimulus
vehicle to provide each and every citizen for ensuring that federal agencies are
program, and links to related web
with the ability to monitor the progress transparent and accountable in
pages.The screen shot is an early
of the recovery.” reporting and spending Recovery Act
version of the home page.
All federal agencies will post funds.The Board is composed of 11
For the most part, Recovery Act funds inspectors general for federal agencies,
information to Recovery.gov about the
are funneled through state and local led by Earl Devaney of the Department
sources, recipients and use of
governments, which manage citizen- of the Interior.The website is managed
expenditures under the Recovery Act,
facing programs. State governors were by the U.S. General Services
to make it easy for citizens to follow
given 45 days after the law was signed Administration. I
and understand the impact of the
to claim the funds allocated for their
stimulus legislation. Live data feeds to
states by certifying that they would
the site will provide raw data that can For further information about the website
“request and use” the funds to create
be re-used in graphic presentations or and the distribution of Recovery Act funds,
jobs and promote economic growth. go to www.recovery.gov.
in combination with other data to
5

6. Democratization of Data
Unfettered Access to
Data CanTransform Government
By W. David Stephenson
Principal
Stephenson Strategies
hen SEC Chairman
W Christopher Cox announced
in December that,
beginning on a phased-in basis this
year, corporate reports to the SEC
must be filed with XBRL tags so the
data would be interactive, he held up
a hand-typed SEC report. It was the
kind was common during my
childhood many years ago, and, Cox
said, “When it was published, this
was a useful report.”
Back then, gathering and
disseminating data was a long and
labor-intensive process, so perhaps it
was justifiable that data only had to
be reported infrequently and only a
select few agency leaders had access transparency, however, is to ignore • Made available externally in forms
to it. Unavoidable delays in some of their more creative uses. that enable civic groups,
distributing data made it better for Instead, we need to think of entrepreneurs and individuals to
recording past mistakes than guiding “democratizing data,” creating a become “co-creators” with
daily decisions. seamless, continuous data loop in government, integrating into
Today, it is technologically possible to which data is: applications, services, and even
have a continuous cycle of data • Collected in data bases and businesses can use to improve civic
in/data out. There is no longer warehouses life and individuals’ lives.
justification for withholding data Whether it’s public companies that
(unless there are overriding security • Structured (using “tags” such as
XML and KML) so that it can easily now must meet the new SEC
and privacy issues) from anyone who regulations or agencies that must
legitimately needs it. Today, a “useful” be queried and seamlessly shared
comply with Coburn-Obama, the major
report is a real-time report. between various systems
cost involved is cleaning up and
To date, most have focused on access • Automatically syndicated so that it structuring the data by adding on the
to this data for transparency (for is available when and where it is “tags.” Once tagged, data can be used
example, the Coburn-Obama Federal needed, and, ideally, on a real-time and shared anywhere and the time and
Funding Accountability and basis money spent on adding new uses is
Transparency Act of 2006), so that the • Made available to all workers who negligible.
public, watchdog groups and the need it, in forms they can use to That portends an exciting
media can scrutinize it. That is manage their work and collaborate transformation for government
important particularly in light of the with others workers. Many will get access to real-
controversy about how the first round time, location-based information that
of money in the financial bailout was • Made available externally so that
watchdog groups can analyze it, as a can really help them do their jobs
(or wasn’t!) spent. better, especially if they also have
means to restore public confidence
To look at data feeds just for in government’s integrity. access to data visualization tools (the
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6

7. private sector Many Eyes and Swivel assigned a different color rectangle. In less than a month, 47 usable
sites are good examples) that will help City blocks where multiple indicators applications were created, ranging
them interpret, make sense of, and are present (and which are at higher from do-it-yourself walking historical
share the data. risk of serious socio-economic tours using an iPhone to a “We the
problems) are immediately obvious to People” transparency & accountability
The District of Columbia used such an
users. Because these seven sets of wiki to help the public track D.C.
approach with a high-priority program
data are typically created by different spending. The crowdsourcing
to deliver more than 6,000 PCs to
agencies, it is highly unlikely that they phenomenon offers access to data and
public school classrooms. The team
were shared in the past. Agencies that free rein to a wide range of people with
charged with executing the project had
might have previously treated differing interests and expertise.
access to the District’s GIS systems,
symptoms of decay in isolation can BTW: I wonder which agency will be
and created custom Google Maps
now see which blocks must be the first to sponsor an internal “Apps
allowing them to deliver and install all
addressed first and work together, for Democracy” contest that allows its
of the PCs in only 7 weeks. An earlier
reducing the cost and increasing their employees, no matter whether they’re
plan, without the data-sharing tools,
effectiveness. in IT or not, to design a widget or other
had estimated the project would take a
application that would help their co-
year. Finally, democratizing data can
workers!
facilitate an uncharted area of
Another example of how real-time
government innovation, in which the Why stop with accountability if the
access to actionable data can
public takes structured data feeds and same mechanism that makes possible
transform government was pointed out
creates new computer applications automatic delivery of structured data
by the Neighborhood Knowledge LA
that provide real service to the public. can also help government workers be
(NKLA) project, a collaboration
The District of Columbia was again more productive and even involve
between UCLA and neighborhood
the pioneer in this regard, with its citizens in designing innovative
groups. They used the Center for
“Apps for Democracy” contest in 2008. applications to supplement traditional
Neighborhood Technology’s
Design firms and individuals were governmental services. I’d call that
“Neighborhood Early Warning
invited to use one or more of the more Transparency Plus. I
System,” which looks at seven
than 260 different data feeds in the
indicators of neighborhood decline,
“Citywide Data Warehouse” to drive W. David Stephenson is an e-gov and Web
such as code violations and/or
applications that would increase 2.0 consultant and theorist. He is the lead
property taxes in arrears. NKLA’s site
transparency or enable public use of author of the forthcoming Democratizing
plots the information on city maps, Data.
the data.
with each of the seven factors
Technology as a Game-Changer proposed a “contracts and influence
database” that publicizes how much
money federal contractors receive,
how much they spend on lobbying,
By Darrell M. West
Vice President and Director of Governance Studies and how effectively they fulfill
Brookings Institution government contracts. Improving
transparency through online
information will be a great boon to
researchers, reporters, and ordinary
he goal of electronic transforms the culture, organization,
T
citizens, and make it easier to follow
government is not just to and functioning of government. the government money trail.
substitute one delivery system During the campaign, candidate
for another. If people go online and Barack Obama pledged to put Digital technology represents a way
print out a report instead of calling up detailed public sector information for government to become more
the Food and Drug Administration, online and make it searchable. He transparent and pro-active in dealing
that is not a major system stated that he wanted to create “a with citizens and businesses. Many
transformation. It doesn’t change how centralized Internet database of government agencies today are
government functions or how officials lobbying reports, ethics records and reactive in nature. They wait for
think about their mission. campaign finance filings in a people to request information or
searchable, sortable and services. However, the Internet
Rather, it is important to think of allows government agencies to
downloadable format.” In addition, he
technology as a “game-changer” that customize information and push
Continued on next page...
7

8. material out to people. On some Digital tools offer the potential to domestic agenda (health care
government websites, you can involve more people in decision- reform).
register as having interests in making. Before President Obama
There are 13 million email addresses
particular subjects. Let’s say you are a signs legislation, he plans to wait five
in the Obama campaign database.
soybean farmer in Iowa and have days to allow for public comments.
After the election, the campaign sent
registered that interest with the U.S. People will be able to go to a website
a survey to each of these, asking for
Department of Agriculture website. and say,”Yes, you should sign this
zip code, phone number, issue
When new research comes out of bill” or”No, you shouldn’t, and these
interests (such as gay rights,
Iowa State University on soybeans, or are the reasons why you shouldn’t.” In
disability, health care, or education),
market conditions change, the same vein, the Environmental
and willingness to contact public
government agencies can email Protection Agency has been using e-
officials. It is obvious what Obama is
reports to those people and say here rulemaking on proposed federal
going to do with this information.
is something you should know about. regulations to broaden citizen
When tough votes come before
It brings a different mentality to participation in government. The
Congress, he is going to ask
government and puts agencies in the Brookings Press is publishing a book
supporters to contact legislators in
mold of helping people where they entitled Wiki-Government by Beth
same way President Reagan did in
want to be helped. You can envision Noveck formerly a professor at New
1981 with letters and phone calls
similar applications in health care, York Law School, and now in the
when he wanted to pass his landmark
It is important to think of technology as a “game-changer”
that transforms the culture, organization, and functioning
of government.
tax cut legislation. Electronic
education, climate change, and Office of Science and Technology
technology will allow Obama to
variety of other areas. If someone Policy at the White House. It is terrific
harness his grass roots movement to
attends a public school in Cleveland, research on how governments can
further his political objectives.
Ohio, local education officials can harness the power of collective
notify parents of important knowledge in decision-making. She When you add all these things
developments affecting that school. proposes that agencies such as the together, Obama has the potential to
Hospitals can target people Patent and Trademark Office set up use technology to improve
interested in staying up-to-date on wikis in which people can comment government transparency and
diabetes treatments by sending them on proposed patents and help reinvigorate democracy. His most
material on new research in the area. authorities decide what truly is new. important challenge, though, will be
public and media cynicism. Public
Information technology provides The digital revolution gives political
trust in government is at an all-time
feedback on how agencies are doing. leaders a way to bring outside
low. When people are cynical, they
I visited China a couple of years ago pressure to bear on Congress and
don’t believe anyone really is going to
as part of a technology delegation. thereby help break the partisan
make a difference. But if Obama can
Going through passport control when gridlock that has plagued our national
maintain the sense of hope, he will
we landed at the Beijing Airport, I government for years. There has been
become our first truly digital
noticed an electronic device that inaction on leading issues such as
president. I
asked me to rate the performance of health care, Social Security, climate
the passport officer on a 1 to 4 scale. change, and immigration. President
This represented an innovative Obama has substantial Democratic Darrell M. West is Vice President and
example of introducing transparency majorities in the House and Senate, Director of Governance Studies at the
Brookings Institution. He is the author of
and accountability into the system. If but he should remember that Digital Government: Technology and
there is a spike upward in complaints Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Public Sector Service and previously was
about a particular official or specific Clinton had the same thing early in the Director of the Taubman Center for
agency, administrators know there is each of their administrations. Neither Public Policy at Brown University. For
a problem and this feedback provides of those Democratic presidents was additional information contact
an opportunity to address inadequate able to get much passed and Clinton dwest@brookings.edu.
performance. was not able to get Congress to take a
single vote on the centerpiece of his
8

9. Information as a Public Good
By Sean Gorman, PhD
CEO and Founder
FortiusOne
Introduction asking agencies to share with citizens with companies and non-profits
can be viewed as a public good. If the taking open government data and
The new administration has made EPA makes information on the creating sophisticated technology and
transparent and open government a location of toxic dumping available, services around them. A stellar
top priority. As part of this mission, and I use that data to inform my example of this is the phenomenal
agencies are encouraged to “harness neighborhood of hazards, I have not growth of Web-based geospatial
new technologies to put information inhibited anyone else from using the technologies – often called the
about their operations and decisions data for other purposes. There is a GeoWeb. Google Earth uses data
online and readily available to the societal benefit to making information from NASA, NOAA, U.S. Navy,
public.” Further, agencies are asked open and available to the public. National Geo-spatial-Intelligence
to view information as a “national Agency and other government
asset” to be shared with the citizens. This concept is not new, but if we
agencies to create the virtual
I would contend that the information connect the idea to technology there
panoramas of our planet.
The government can make information available as reports,
maps and charts, but it can also make it available as data.
President Obama is asking is the opportunity to create even EveryBlock
government to share with citizens is a greater benefits beyond transparency.
Another innovative example is
public good. If we view information The government can make
Everyblock, a web application that
as a public good then there is the information available as reports,
combines metropolitan data like
opportunity to not only create maps and charts, but it can also make
crime, road construction, building
transparency but also save it available as data. Specifically,
permits, and sanitation violations
government resources and money government can provide the raw
statistics and makes information
while stimulating the economy. First source data that is the foundation for
easily accessible to the public for
we need to clearly define the meaning reports and statistics. The first
consumption. The image below shows
of 'public good.' benefit of this approach is that it
the results for recent crimes in the
provides greater transparency of
Federal Triangle neighborhood of
Information as a Public Good government. Any individual or group
Washington D.C.
would be able to check the validity of
In economics the concept of a “public statistics and conclusions drawn from In both instances open public data is
good” describes a situation in which information produced by the being made available to the public in
the consumption of a good or service government. This provides another an attractive and consumable form.
by one individual does not reduce avenue for citizens to participate and Not only do these applications make
availability of the good or service for collaborate with government. the data more transparent, they have
others; therefore no one can be also fueled innovation and business
excluded from using it. A classic The GeoWeb as a Use Case creation.
example of a public good is a
lighthouse. All ships benefit from the From a technology perspective, open
data has the positive externality of
Apps for Democracy
lighthouse, and if more ships benefit
from the lighthouse that does not creating opportunities for citizens and Vivek Kundra, the former D.C. CTO
adversely affect the community of “the market” to innovate with the has leveraged the combination of
ships. As opposed to an apple which data. If the government can provide open government data with the
is a finite resource. If I take a bite of well-organized data in common technology community to great
the apple, there is less of the apple for formats, then technology and services success. He made D.C. government
you. From this perspective, the can be built on top of the data. There data open to the public in common
information President Obama is has been enormous success already formats then ran a contest, “Apps for
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9

10. Democracy,” for developers to create contributors and 800 million data receiving higher quality data in return,
innovative applications with the data. points. When OpenStreetMap came and arguably the data has driven
This contest resulted in the to the United States, the Census production of technology applications
development and submission of 47 Bureau’s TIGER line street data were that the government would have
applications. The D.C. CTO’s office already available in the public domain. contracted for. Further, the
estimated that the cost of having the This provided a huge jump-start for government has created an economic
D.C. government develop these apps OpenStreetMap and the team quickly stimulus by providing data around
would have exceeded $2 million and began updating and correcting errors which business can be built. Of
required 1-2 years of effort between in the data. special significance is the innovation-
contracting, procurement and based economic stimulus for small
Now there is a resource with updated
development. The contest cost a total and medium sized businesses, which
and more accurate TIGER data
of $50,000 and was delivered in 30 are the backbone of America’s job
available for the public. This cost
days. Not only did Kundra’s efforts creation engine. Most importantly,
Census no additional resources and
enable more transparency around these projects and the approaches
no additional budget. In addition, the
D.C. Government, they also saved the outlined serve the purpose of making
data made available by
city a substantial amount of money. government more transparent and
OpenStreetMap has provided the
inviting greater participation and
foundation for several technology
OpenStreetMap collaboration. Each of these examples
start-ups creating new jobs and
built a community around the data
The benefits to government of making innovation in the marketplace.
that is passionate about both its
data public do not stop with saving accuracy and application. We have a
money. In the United Kingdom, much Conclusion collective opportunity to promote
of the data produced by the change that will revitalize the
All four examples; Google Earth,
government is sold for a fee. This is economy and society, and this is one
EveryBlock, Apps for Democracy and
especially true in the case of path that will get us closer to those
OpenStreetMap, demonstrate the
geospatial data, where the Ordinance lofty goals. I
potential of leveraging government
Survey charges large sums of money
data as a public good. The public has
for a variety of geospatial data. This
greatly benefited from the Sean Gorman founded FortiusOne in 2005
led to the creation of a non-profit
technologies built around the data, to bring advanced geospatial technologies
project called OpenStreetMaps, to market. For further information, contact
and the use of the data has not
where volunteers use consumer GPS sean.gorman@fortiusone.com,
removed value from the government.
units and Web software to map out 703.247.9280 or elarson@fortiusone.com,
In fact the government has gained –
street infrastructure. The project has 703.622.4878.
saving money, saving resources,
gone global with more than 80,000
10

11. Citizen Views OnTransparency
By Suzanne J. Piotrowski and
Gregg Van Ryzin
Rutgers University - Newark
he proper balance between Research Method there are several dimensions to the
T governmental secrecy and open
government is at the forefront
of contemporary public debate.
The data for our analysis come from
an online survey conducted in March
2005 of participants in the
public’s demand for transparency,
including fiscal, safety, and
government concerns, and principled
Intuitively, it seems individuals differ openness. Age, political ideology,
in their level of demand for eTownPanel project, an opt-in e-mail confidence in government leaders,
governmental transparency. panel of approximately 6,044 active frequency of contacting government,
Governmental transparency is the participants (at the time of the study). and especially the perception that
degree to which there is access to The eTownPanel project is a there is currently not enough access
government-held information. Some university-affiliated, foundation- to government appear to drive the
feel strongly about the need to access funded online research resource public’s demand for transparency,
government information and to learn created to provide a general although determinants differ for each
more about what government is doing, population of volunteers to dimension. Some, although not all, of
whereas others are less interested. participate in surveys about local these factors also predict citizens’
Those who view government as already adequately open
demand less transparency, whereas those who see
government as closed seek more.
Moreover, people differ in terms of the community issues and government actual requests for government
kinds of government information they performance, in particular surveys information.
seek to access. Using data from a sponsored by local nonprofit
organizations, government agencies, Our analysis reveals some insights on
national online survey, we develop
and academic researchers. Volunteers the structure and possible
several indices to measure citizens’
are recruited from various online determinants of public demand for
demand for local governmental
postings and e-mail lists and are not a transparency at the local level. There
transparency and to identify its
random sample of the U.S. population. appear to be potentially different
correlates.
Invitations were sent via e-mail to the dimensions to the public’s demand for
Two initial questions are addressed in entire panel, and a total of 1,819 governmental transparency,
this study: (a) How can we measure completed the questionnaire, for a dimensions related to public finances,
citizens’ desire or demand for panel response rate of 30percent. safety, the principle of open
governmental transparency, and government, and the notion of good or
specifically, are there different The survey asked a large number of honest government. In addition, our
dimensions to such a demand? and questions about transparency in analysis suggests several key
(b) What personal and contextual government, as well as questions determinants of these various forms
factors are correlated with variation about other attitudes and behaviors of public demand for transparency.
in the level of demand for that were hypothesized to be potential Perhaps the public’s perception of
governmental transparency? We focus correlates or determinants of the how much openness currently exists
on local government transparency demand for transparency. We in government emerges as a
because citizens have a more direct conducted an exploratory factor significant factor across the various
stake in local issues (like crime and analysis to reduce the transparency measures of demand for transparency.
land use) and because the data for items and to create scales. Those who view government as
our research, explained more fully already adequately open demand less
below, come from a survey research Findings transparency, whereas those who see
project focused on local government The data and analysis suggest that government as closed seek more.
affairs. People who are politically engaged
Continued on next page...
11

12. and who frequently contact Finally, a number of potential these issues to either confirm or
government also tend to demand predictors we expected to be related disprove the expected relationships.
more transparency. to the demand for transparency failed
This research begins to develop a way
to enter significantly into our models.
The trust-in-government literature of measuring dimensions of the
Although past literature identifies
has found that there is a relationship public’s demand for transparency, and
race as related to trust in government
between trust in government and the some of the determinants of these
and satisfaction with government
perception that democracy is dimensions. Because no previous
services, race was not related to
“working well.” In three of the five research has attempted to measure
attitudes toward transparency. Race
scales, confidence in local officials these concepts, this study should be
was, however, related to the behavior
had a statistically significant, seen as providing an exploratory,
of obtaining government documents.
negative relationship to demand for empirical foundation for future work
People who are politically engaged and who
frequently contact government also tend to demand
more transparency.
transparency. The more confidence Conclusions on the topic. The results presented
citizens have in their local officials, provide both predicted and surprising
the less they are interested in fiscal, Our questionnaire focused almost results. More thought and attention
principled, and good government exclusively on the municipal needs to be turned to this topic to
transparency. Senator John Cornyn of government level. This is appropriate better understand the link between
Texas stated that “open government because individuals have so much of demand for transparency and its
is fundamentally an American issue, their government contact at the local potential correlates. I
not a Republican or Democrat issue.” level. Even with this is mind, it is
Using party affiliation as a proxy for possible that national-level issues
This is based on a research article titled
ideology, Republican Cornyn is half affect individuals’ demand for “Citizen Attitudes Toward Transparency in
right. Self-identified conservatives transparency of local-level Local Government” published in the in The
and liberals were both interested in documents, the most obvious of which American Review of Public
transparency, just different types of are national defense and homeland Administration (2007; volume 37 No.3
transparency. Although conservatives security. A question, or series of p306-323). Suzanne Piotrowski and Gregg
questions, ascertaining respondents’ Van Ryzin are both faculty members of the
questioned the need for transparency School of Public Affairs and Administration
more than liberals, they also were views on these topics could be
at Rutgers University-Newark. For
more concerned than liberals about included in future research. The additional information contact
accessing safety-related information. perceived high cost of governmental spiotrow@rutgers.edu and
Self-identified liberals, on the other transparency and the desire for vanryzin@rutgers.edu.
hand, were more concerned with personal privacy are two possible
accessing government information on reasons why individuals may want
principle and for good governance less transparency. Future research
concerns. should include questions that address
12

13. Practices at Work in Government
Texas Websites Improve Accountability
By Susan Combs
Comptroller
State of Texas
n the Texas State Comptroller’s In 2007, the Texas Legislature asked contracts, individual purchasers can
I Office, we continuously pore over
budgets in keeping the books for
our agency and the State of Texas as a
the Comptroller’s office to create an
advisory council with other state
agencies to examine uniform financial
leverage the state of state’s bulk
buying power to receive lower prices.
Our office expects Texas to save at
whole — a large task, and one that accounting in state government.
least $28 million in phase one of Texas
should be open to scrutiny. By my
Today, Texas state agencies use many Smart Buy. The savings and cost-
fourth day as Comptroller, we
sets of books with sometimes avoidance represent more than
published all of our agency
conflicting accounting data. Any 8percent of state spending for certain
expenditures online, right down to the
given agency might use its own goods and services. Already, Texas
pencils. And thanks to our Where the
bookkeeping methods and codes for has identified these savings and cost
Money Goes website, our
tracking and classifying items, a avoidances:
expenditures and those of other state
recipe for duplication that can make
agencies are available and easily • Overnight/express mail — the state
accurate statewide bookkeeping an
searchable online. saved 34percent, or $3.8 million,
enormous challenge. With the Single
In these tough economic times, all Set of Books Initiative, our office will and awarded a significant portion
taxpayers — at the city, county, state work with agencies to present a report of this contract to a Texas-based
and federal levels — deserve to know to the Legislature on ways that state vendor.
their tax dollars are used wisely. Just accounting systems and processes • Outgoing mail machines — the
as working families must cut can be made more accurate and state saved 20percent, or $876,000,
expenses and look for ways to save, useful in decision-making. by negotiating a new contract with
all governments must tighten their a long-time vendor.
Uniform financial reporting across all
belts and make the most of every
state agencies and higher education • Fleet —the state expects to save $7
dollar.
institutions will shine the brightest million on fleet vehicles through
Our office endeavors to do its part in light on the state’s finances and allow contract negotiations. Also, for the
improving Texas government state leaders to obtain real-time, first time, the state will look beyond
transparency, and some of our reliable information to make well- the sticker price to consider the
initiatives may stand as templates for informed decisions. cost of fueling vehicles for 100,000
other governments in crafting miles.
transparency initiatives. Taking a Second Initiative:
common-sense approach to the issue, As one of the largest purchasing
Texas Smart Buy entities in the nation, our state is
we recently introduced Open Book
Texas, a three-part set of initiatives Transparency helps spotlight making that leverage work for us. For
aimed at improving government spending inefficiencies after the fact, years, families have used strategies
accounting accuracy, spending and and our office also works to make like buying in bulk to save money, and
transparency. Texas state government a better it makes sense for governments to
shopper from the outset. That is have the same option.
First Initiative: where Texas Smart Buy helps.
Single Set of Books The initiative gives agencies and
Third Initiative:
local governments access to an online Texas Transparency Check-Up
To shine more light on state agency
shopping cart — much like shopping With the rollout of a new website,
bookkeeping, beyond our Where the
at popular online retailers — that Texas Transparency Check-Up, our
Money Goes online expenditure
allows them to purchase goods and office expands on previous online
database, we are pursuing an
services through state-negotiated accountability efforts and encourages
initiative to introduce more uniformity
contracts. By purchasing from those transparency at all levels of Texas
in Texas government accounting.
Continued on next page...
13

14. government finance. The website public. Transparency and wise spending are
offers transparency guidance to local important during the best of times and
The website highlights local
governments and provides Texans an absolutely essential in an uncertain
government success stories, provides
opportunity to see how well their local economy where there are no dollars to
links to exemplary local government
governments stack up in offering waste. To operate with the utmost
websites and gives taxpayers tips to
online access to financial information. integrity, all governments should
ensure that their government is open
show the same common sense,
In implementing this initiative, we and accountable.
resourcefulness and thrift when
researched the financial transparency
When you know what you are spending money as taxpayers. I
of the top 50 Texas cities, Texas
spending, you know how to spend
counties, school districts and other
better. Our office is committed to Susan Combs was elected Texas
local entities. Texas Transparency
seeing that philosophy spread to Comptroller of Public Accounts in
Check-Up reveals the results. The site
every level of government. In the age November of 2006. For an in-depth look at
also offers local governments step- Open Book Texas initiatives, visit
of the Internet, there is seldom a
by-step advice for posting information www.window.state.tx.us/openbook.
reason to not publish public
online and presenting it in a way that
information online.
is readable and understandable to the
14

15. Georgia’s Commitment to Customer
Service and Good Government
By the Georgia Governor’s Office of Communications and the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office of Media Relations
eorgia elected officials show a the website allows you to find Government initiative. Georgians can
G commitment to government
transparency and high ethical
standards through the use of
professional services expenditures
made by state organizations. Open
Georgia also includes financial reports
access her agency’s budget and
monthly expenditures, with detailed
information on spending categories.
technology. Through the Open Georgia containing the Comprehensive Annual The Secretary of State’s website
website (www.open.georgia.gov) and Financial Report, budgetary highlights the agency’s ethics policy
the Secretary of State’s Transparency compliance reports, the Budget in and Secretary Handel’s personal and
in Government website Brief and single audits. The site allows campaign financial disclosures.
(http://www.sos.georgia.gov/TIG), Georgians to review payments to
“Responsible fiscal management
citizens have direct access to detailed vendors doing business with the state
begins with a commitment to
accounts of government spending. during the two previous fiscal years.
transparency and accountability,” She
The Open Georgia site was created by The website also allows citizens to said. “Georgia taxpayers deserve to
the Transparency in Government Act search for reports that evaluate how know how their tax dollars are being
and formally launched on January 5, well various state programs are spent, and I am pleased to provide
2009. operating, including performance them with that information.”
audits, program evaluations, and
“The Open Georgia website makes In addition to these new tools, Georgia
special examinations released by the
state government more transparent to lawmakers continue to look for
Department of Audits and Accounts
its customer, the taxpayer,” said additional ways to make public
over the last five years. In 2010, it will
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue at the information easily accessible. Rep. Ed
be expanded to include grant and
time. “By being willing to further open Lindsey introduced legislation in the
contact payments to vendors by state
the halls of government to the public, 2009 session of the General Assembly
agencies.
we give citizens more confidence that that would require counties, cities and
their tax dollars are being spent There are numerous ways to search for school boards with budgets over $1
wisely.” salary and vendor information. Users million to develop a free, searchable
can search by name, title, description website that would include all sources
“We have taken a major step towards
and agency and export search results of revenue, itemized by amount; the
fully open and easily accessible
to Microsoft Excel or Adobe .pdf entity’s annual budget; a list of all
accounting of how every state tax
formats. contracts and obligations of more than
dollar is spent,” said its sponsor State
$1,000; and an itemization of salaries
Senator Chip Roberts. “The very best To ensure that the website is able to
and other expenses paid to all public
way to prevent wasteful government carry out its mission the state has
officials and employees.
spending is to let those paying the bills trained operators at its main phone
see exactly where their money is number, 1-800-GEORGIA, to direct Georgia officials know government
going.” citizens to a specific web address or to functions best when it is made
answer detailed questions about the accountable to the citizens who fund it.
Open Georgia allows citizens online
state’s performance. The commitment Georgia’s dedication to making
access to agency expenditures on
to provide further details on spending information easily accessible
professional services, employee
is part of a larger commitment from the demonstrates that the state continues
salaries and travel expenses, state
state to make government more to lead the way in truly becoming a
financial reports and program reviews.
customer-friendly. citizen-friendly government. I
In the Salaries and Travel
Reimbursements section, the public Georgia Secretary of State Karen
can find salaries and travel Handel has demonstrated a For additional information, please contact
reimbursements paid to employees of commitment to government the Georgia Governor’s Office of
Communications at 404-651-7774, or the
the state and employees of local transparency, ethics and responsible Georgia Secretary of State’s Office of Media
boards of education. The “professional stewardship of taxpayer dollars Relations at 404-656-4269.
Services and Expenditure” section of through her agency’s Transparency in
15

16. Transparency 2.0 processing power, tools, bandwidth,
and mobile computing -- that was
previously only available to large
organisations and governments.
By Laurence Millar
Deputy Commissioner and Government CIO Futurists point to non-linear change
State Services Commission which means that people’s capabilities
New Zealand will only accelerate.
The Web has gone from read-only to
read-write. The 2.0 dynamic is very
hanks to the popularity of the mostly by individual agencies. The different from the 1.0 state. People are
T term Web 2.0, the suffix ‘2.0’ is
being applied to just about
anything. However, there is one benefit
State Services Commission, in its
leadership role of the State Services,
provides information and metrics at an
treated as partners, equals in pursuit
of shared outcomes and common
goals. In turn, this is driving the
from this indiscriminate labelling. It all-of-government level. Two notable expectations that people have of
helps frame some important examples are the Kiwis Count survey, government.
questions—What is the current 1.0 which looks at perceptions of the
state? What are the limitations of the public service, and the annual Human Change is happening now.
1.0 state? What are the drivers for the Resource Capability survey of the
There are too many examples around
2.0 state? Finally, how do we get there? government workforce.
the world to ignore. Oft-quoted
examples include New Zealand’s
Transparency 1.0 Limitations of the 1.0 state TheyWorkForYou and the UK’s
The people’s right to know is a central There is always room for improvement. FixMyStreet. Less well known but
pillar of democratic societies. For example, the potential to better equally powerful is Sami Ben
Transparency, which gives effect to systematise the release of government Gharbia’s campaign out of the
this right, is a critical element for information and to improve the Netherlands to highlight the issue of
building and maintaining trust in operation of the Official Information political prisoners in Tunisia. His
government. Effectively holding Act has been identified. efforts include a Google map mashup
government accountable for services, of the semi-secret locations where the
Notwithstanding the improvements prisoners are being held with YouTube
decisions, and spending taxpayers’
that can and should be made to the videos and a blog.
money depends on transparency.
current transparency regime, there are
Transparency 1.0 is underpinned by a limitations inherent in the dynamic and
legislative framework. For example, in mindset that Transparency 1.0
Getting to Transparency 2.0
New Zealand the Official Information addresses. Either people ask for Three things can facilitate
Act allows people, with very few information and government responds Transparency 2.0 and enhance public
exceptions, to get the information they or the government makes it available value.
want from ministers and government under a legislative or good-practice
First, the default should be that all
organisations. Fiscal transparency is imperative. The underlying assumption
non-personal data and information
mandated by the Public Finance Act is one of inequality; a mindset of
held by government is publicly
and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand opposing interests that requires a
available. This requires a huge shift in
Act. watchdog.
attitudes and practices and is
Our robust transparency regime has In this situation, transparency provides therefore likely to be part of a larger
been internationally recognised. New a vital check and balance dynamic. renewal of the democratic fabric. It is
Zealand is joint first with Denmark and However, Transparency 1.0 by its very a worthy goal and even incremental
Sweden on Transparency nature cannot act as a major enabling steps are welcome. The Scandinavian
International’s 2008 Corruption lever that uses transparency’s countries present good examples of
Perception Index (see potential to fundamentally transform what can be achieved.
www.transparency.org). While the list the relationship between people and
Second, data and information should
leaders have changed over the years, government.
be freely available and usable. This
New Zealand remains near the top.
means it is easy to find; in open
This isn’t by resting on previous Change drivers machine-readable formats; has
achievements but by actively working
The easiest way to describe the adequate metadata; licensing is
on openness, trust, and transparency.
drivers of change is to point to the standardised with no or minimal
The legislative framework is emergence of Web 2.0. The average constraints on reuse; pricing is
complemented by other measures, person now has the capability -- reasonable (zero cost being the norm);
Continued on next page...
16