9781422282717

CORRUPTION AND TRANSPARENCY

G overnments are institutions created to make and enforce decisions on a wide variety of issues. These decisions range from establishing a minimum age for marriage to whether or not to declare war on another nation. Governments also gather and distribute resources and regulate aspects of everyday life. For instance, governments collect taxes and use that money to pay for programs such as education. They also decide how long a person should attend school. For much of human history, governments existed mainly to benefit a small group of elites who held all or most of the political power. These elites used governments to increase their wealth and become more powerful. Rulers were often corrupt and dishonest. They used force to remain in power. However, the rise of democracy as a political system made governments more accountable to their citizens. Through elections, people were able to express approval or disapproval of their government’s decisions and performance. Therefore, elected officials had to be responsive to the needs and desires of voters. Also, as democracy spread, people demanded more accountability from their elected officials. Citizens want a government that is open and honest, and that serves the needs of the community. Principles of Good Governance All citizens of a country have a right to good governance . This does not mean that a government will always make decisions that its citizens agree with. Instead, it means that the institution should use the best system to actually make those decisions—one in which all policy choices are considered, and in which decisions are designed to provide the most benefits for the most people. Good governance must be based on openness; this openness is often described as transparency. People should be able to easily understand how and why a decision was made. They should be allowed access to the same information, data, and advice that was used by governments to enact choices. Citizens should also have an opportunity to participate in the process by expressing their opinions and

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