Publicity, Transparency, and Openness in Public Administration
| Autor | João Gaspar Rodrigues |
| Cargo | Mestre em Direito pela Universidade de Coimbra |
| Páginas | 10-37 |
Fecha de recepción: 4 de agosto de 2021
Fecha de aceptación: 6 de febrero de 2022
Abstract
This work addresses the republican principle of publicity and its constitutional corolla-
ries within administrative activity, in light of the recent Access to Information Law and
constitutional guidelines. For the smooth functioning of an open society, all state space
is subject to the light of transparency. The concept that transparency in Public Adminis-
tration is essential for it to function more responsibly and effectively is gaining increasing
importance in the theor y of administrative law.
K
Publicity. Transparency. Opening. Public Administration. Law on Access to Information.
Democracy. Rule of law.
Resumen
Este trabajo aborda el principio republicano de publicidad y sus corolar ios constituciona-
les dentro de la actividad administrativa, a la luz de la reciente Ley de Acceso a la Informa-
ción y los lineamientos constitucionales. Para el funcionamiento uido de una sociedad
abierta, todo espacio estatal está sujeto a la luz de la publicidad. El concepto de que la
transparencia en la Administración Pública es fundamental para que funcione de manera
más responsable y ecaz está adquiriendo una impor tancia creciente en la teoría del de-
recho administrativo.
P
Publicidad. Transparencia. Apertura. Administración Pública. Ley de Acceso a la Informa-
ción. Democracia. Estado de derecho.
Publicity, Transparency, And Openness In Public Administration João Gaspar Rodrigues
11
EDICIÓN 58: 9-37, 2022
UNIVERSIDAD DEL NORTE
ISSN: 2145-9355 (on line)
1. INTRODUCTION
The publicity of public affairs is an essential attr ibute of an institutionalized democratic-consti-
tutional regime, and it allows anyone to monitor and criticize any vices or failures. No one is in-
terested, in an open and well-constituted democratic society, in secret cabinet matters discussed
behind closed doors, without the public being aware of and able to monitor them.
N. Bobbio (1986, p. 84) denes democracy as the government of public power in public, naming
the secrecy of ofcial spheres as “cryptogovernment”, in which the publicity of acts of power re-
presents the true moment of transition of the modern st ate: from absolute state to state right. In
the democratic environment, state secrecy (suppor ted by “state reasons”) is an exception regula-
ted by laws that do not allow for an extensive and amplifying interpretation.
The fall of communism and totalitar ian regimes in the last quarter of the 20th century resulted in a
moral condemnation of the “culture of secrecy” and the lack of access to public information by the
body of citizens (demos). This inuenced the new democracies into inserting, in the Constitutions,
the right of access to public information as a fundamental right, and to develop a whole regulatory
legislation.
It is evident to the modern spirit that a government of a democr atic type demands, as an indispen-
sable condition of political health, a constant supply of accurate information about public af fairs
to all citizens and, consequently, a vigorous maintenance of public interest. A healthy political
structure of government requires abundant, quick, and true information about what is happening
within the State, as well as a frank and free discussion of public problems. This general information
will serve to unite citizens around harmonic goals, and enable them to want, as one body.
The State has a primar y function that does not depend on its inclusion in any Constitution: to facili-
tate historic collective action by clar ifying the problems that arise in determining the objectives of
action. Thus, it stimulates collective thinking, welcomes it, and gives it back more clearly, informing
the reasons for the decisions that are made. This participator y and informative circularity makes the
collectivity move from a state of diffuse political consciousness to a clearer s tate of consciousness, a
community of knowledge, creating a common political idea, and directly inuencing public delibera-
tions. It is in this way that a society attains the purest degree of self-awareness.
It goes without saying that “publicity or access to information”, “citizen participation in public
deliberations”, and “access to justice” constitute the intangible basis of what is conventionally
called participatory democracy. And for this very reason, between the right to information and
the rights of democratic par ticipation, a true symbiotic relationship is established. Only informed
citizens can participate in public debates and put forw ard their own positions.
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