The Second Talossan Government Transparency Act

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Whereas, government transparency is important to the maintenance of a relationship of trust, confidence, and respect between the governor and the governed, and

Whereas, this mutual relationship is a vital component for the maintenance of Talossa's free and open society, and

Whereas, the automated transmittal of non-confidential internal government communications to the Royal Archives upholds the current Government's pledge of transparency.

Therefore, be it enacted, that El Lexhatx Section 8 (D. The Government) is amended to add a new sub-section:

8.9 Automated Governmental Information Transmittal

8.9.1 All internal government communications placed or transmitted on Government-owned fora shall be released to the Royal Archives no later than 10 (ten) years after the conclusion of that Government's term of office.

8.9.2 This transmittal scheme shall begin with the internal government records of the Tzaracomprada Cabinet (58th Cosa). No communications containing protected information covered by El Lexhatx sections D. 8.2, D. 8.3, and D. 8.4 shall be included in the transmittals.

Uréu q'estadra så:
Breneir Tzaracomprada (Seneschal)

[Üc R. Tärfă]

I'd say that 8.9.3 is a "great" testimony of committal to transparency by this Government...

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

I'd say that 8.9.3 is a "great" testimony of committal to transparency by this Government...

I'm not sure I understand. That section indicates our government records are the first to be included in this new effort.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

I think he's interpreting it to mean that we would be excluded.  Which is kind of funny, since we're conducting almost all government business on a Wittenberg forum which will be able to be archived and accessed.  Maybe the language is ambiguous in the bill, although I thought "dissemination" was clear enough?

Just to be clear, Üc, this bill would hold our own government to this standard first of all.

[Üc R. Tärfă]

Than shouldn't be "shall begin with the Government of the 58th Cosă" and not "at the conclusion of"?

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Well, "dissemination" is when something is distributed.  But it wouldn't hurt to rephrase to be more clear.

Actually, I wonder if we should approach past administrations about their own records?  @Breneir Tzaracomprada , maybe that would be worth a conversation with recent past Seneschals?

[Tric'hard Lenxheir]

I think he's interpreting it to mean that we would be excluded.  Which is kind of funny, since we're conducting almost all government business on a Wittenberg forum which will be able to be archived and accessed.  Maybe the language is ambiguous in the bill, although I thought "dissemination" was clear enough?

Just to be clear, Üc, this bill would hold our own government to this standard first of all.

Honestly I read it as beginning after the 58th Cosa as well, so perhaps that part needs to be clarified. I was planning on sending Breneir a message to ask him to clarify and never got around to it.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Well, "dissemination" is when something is distributed.  But it wouldn't hurt to rephrase to be more clear.

Actually, I wonder if we should approach past administrations about their own records?  @Breneir Tzaracomprada , maybe that would be worth a conversation with recent past Seneschals?

I think that is a great idea on both counts. I think, as currently phrased, this includes only Wittenberg and the Talossa.com websites but if previous governments who used Facebook, for example, are interested in jump-starting this effort that would be amazing.

I agree with the Baron's earlier summary of the bill's intent (to include our Government as the first covered under the scheme) but have edited the language in recognition of Uc and Tric'hard's concern.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

There is a glaring loophole in this, as any Cabinet who wanted to preserve their privacy would simply not use State-owner fora.

There is a bigger question, which relates to political sensitivity. In other countries, Cabinet papers are released at a longer time frame so they can no longer be put to political use. Five years is not long enough to render documents of historical rather than political interest. If enacted, this would end up looking like the current US House of Representatives going on a rampage about the previous majority's "weaponisation".

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

There is a glaring loophole in this, as any Cabinet who wanted to preserve their privacy would simply not use State-owner fora.

There is a bigger question, which relates to political sensitivity. In other countries, Cabinet papers are released at a longer time frame so they can no longer be put to political use. Five years is not long enough to render documents of historical rather than political interest. If enacted, this would end up looking like the current US House of Representatives going on a rampage about the previous majority's "weaponisation".

Would 10 years be a more acceptable time period? I started there but thought 5 years might be long enough in Talossan political time periods.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

Actually, 10 years would just about do it. 10 years from now would be just after Reunision which would be the dim and distant past.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Actually, 10 years would just about do it. 10 years from now would be just after Reunision which would be the dim and distant past.

Thanks Miestra. I have revised the release time period now.

[Sir Lüc]

For the record, after the first Plätschisch Cabinet took office, the then-Cabinet forum was wiped and its contents turned over to the Archivist. These comprised the private records of the Siervicül Cabinet (in one batch) and the second and third Da Schir Cabinets (in another, separate batch).

[Üc R. Tärfă]

I have some technical remarks on this bill, I hope to post them soon.

[Üc R. Tärfă]

8.9 Automated Governmental Information Dissemination

I personally don't like the word dissemination. The records according with this law are archived and disclosed, they are not disseminated.

8.9.1 The Government of the Kingdom of Talossa will have a duty of transparency to the people of the nation, so that citizens may hold their elected officials accountable.

This section shall be removed altogether. The first part is a repetition of the head section (§ D.8 ) and doesn't need to be reiterated.
(Moreover: the Gov has, not will have; this bill does nothing to hold the elected accountable as the records are released 10 years later.)

8.9.2 All internal (non-public and non-confidential) government communications placed or transmitted on Government-owned fora shall be released to the Royal Archives no later than 10 (ten) years after the conclusion of that Government's term of office.

Internal and non-public is a repetition.

Non-confidential is problematic: defined by who? How? With which limits? And after 10 years who can choose If they still are confidential? If that part is not addressed the whole bill is potentially meaningless.

8.9.3 This dissemination scheme shall begin with the internal (non-public and non-confidential) government records of the Tzaracomprada Administration (58th Cosa Government).

We don't use Administration but Cabinet. And it's better in the law to don't make reference to names or the name of the Seneschal. Use 58th Cosa only.