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Decisions Without Democracy
by David Banisar
Preace by Bob Barr and John Podesta
 
Government Secrecy:
Decisions Without Democracy
 
BY DAVID BANISAR 
OpenTheGovernment.org is a coalition o consumer and good government groups, environmentalists, journalists,library groups, labor and others united to make the ederal government a more open place in order to make us saer,strengthen public trust in government, and support our democratic principles. www.openthegovernment.orgOpenTheGovernment.org, 1742 Connecticut Avenue N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington D.C. 20009 202-332-OPEN (6736)A project o the Fund or Constitutional Government.All donations are tax-deductible to the maximum allowable by law.People For the American Way Foundation is an energetic advocate or the values and institutions that sustain adiverse democratic society, and which are threatened by the political rise o the religious right. PFAW Foundationseeks to protect undamental rights and reedoms guaranteed under the Constitution, sustain an independent judiciary and mobilize activists to support progressive causes.www.paw.orgPeople For the American Way • 2000 M Street, NW,Suite 400 • Washington, DC 20036Telephone: 202-467-4999 or 800-326-7329 • paw@paw.orgDonations to People For the American Way Foundation, anonproft 501(c)(3) organization, are tax deductible
 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
 
FOREWORD.
1
PREFACE.
.............................................................................3
PREFACE.(1987.EDITION)
.............................................................5
EXECUTIVE.SUMMARY
................................................................7
1.OPENNESS:.AN.AMERICAN.VALUE
..................................................9
 
The.Benets.o.Openness
9 
The.History.o.Openness.in.the.US
11
2.THE.DARKENING.CLOUD
..........................................................13
 
It’s.a.Secret:.Classied.and.Semiclassied.Inormation
13Classied inormation 13The U.S. Executive Order on Classication 14Declassication 15Now you see it, now you don’t: Secret Reclassications 16Watching the Watchers: Oversight o the classication system 16Go Away: The State Secrets Privilege 17Keep away: It’s Sensitive (but not classied)! 18Propaganda and Dis-inormation 20 
Closing.Doors
20The Freedom rom Inormation Act: Limiting the FOIA 20Executive Privilege 22Closing the Courthouse Doors 25 
Gagging.the.Insiders:.Public.Employees
26Gag rules 26Plugging the Whistle 27Ocial Secrets?: The Espionage Act and other criminal statutes 28Attacking the Messenger: the Media and Protection o Sources 29
3.OPPORTUNITIES.FOR.PUBLIC.ACCESS.AND.PARTICIPATION.IN.A.DIGITAL.AGE
....31
 
Electronic.Government
31Access to government inormation online 31E-Rulemaking 34 
Challenges.o.Digital.Government.Inormation
34Digital Divide 34Disappearing documents and web sites 35Managing “Born Digital” Inormation 35 
What.the.Public.Can.Do
36Activism/ organizing 36
APPENDIX.–.LIST.OF.RELEVANT.LEGISLATION
.......................................37
APPENDIX...RESOURCES
.............................................................38
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