I
AUTHOR
Every decision has an author
“The union decided” is sometimes true. Sometimes it hides the answer.
The responsible body or office should be identifiable.
OPEN →TRACE THE DECISION
Authority should leave a visible trail
Members should not have to guess how an important decision appeared. A democratic institution should be able to show who made it, what authority was used and who became responsible for carrying it out.
ILLUSTRATION / VISUAL — TO BE ADDED
II
AUTHORITY
Show the source of the power
An important decision should be connectable to the constitutional or properly delegated authority that allowed it to be made.
OPEN →III
RECORD
Record how collective decisions were made
Where a collegial body decides, the record should show the proposal, the result, relevant conflicts and responsibility for implementation.
OPEN →IV
REASONS
Important power deserves an explanation
Not every routine act needs an essay. But decisions that seriously affect rights, money, mandates or institutions should be capable of being explained.
OPEN →V
DISAGREEMENT
A minority view does not need to disappear
In bodies performing independent constitutional or adjudicative work, disagreement can matter.
A reasoned separate or dissenting opinion can make the institution more transparent without preventing the majority from deciding.
OPEN →VI
RESPONSIBILITY
Authority and responsibility stay together
A person or body should not possess the power to decide while responsibility for the consequences is pushed somewhere else.
OPEN →