Join the Better Government Association for a night of celebration at the 2023 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting on Wednesday, May 24.
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Posted inResearch & Analysis
Chicago’s City Council Spends One-Third of Its Meetings on Honorary Speeches
Chicago’s City Council is off to a slow start in 2023: Only about 40% of its time in session so far this year – or about two of every five […]
Posted inPolicy
FOIA, Council Independence, IG Reports: Mayoral Candidates Address the Big Good-Government Questions
Mayor Lightfoot is only contender who declined to respond.
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Illinois Legislative Oversight is Weak Compared to Other States
Legislative watchdog is ill-equipped compared to other Illinois watchdogs
Posted inPolicy
BGA State Policy Agenda 2023/24
Our Policy Agenda: The Better Government Association policy team researches, drafts, supports and advocates for legislation that improves transparency, efficiency, equity and accountability in government in Illinois. We actively seek to […]
Posted inUncategorized
Court Transparency Coalition
BGA Policy is proud to lead the Court Transparency Coalition in its mission to add the judicial branch to the Freedom of Information Act in the state of Illinois.
Posted inPolicy
Court Transparency Coalition
To help shine light on Illinois’ judicial branch, BGA Policy is proud to lead the Court Transparency Coalition, which recommends that the judicial branch be added to the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
Posted inResearch & Analysis
How Illinois Courts Are Hidden From FOIA
Transparency allows the people of Illinois to see into the inner workings of their government and hold their elected officials accountable. But there is still one area shrouded in darkness: the judicial branch of Illinois government.
Posted inOpenGov
How to File a FOIA Request in Illinois
Governments must allow access to its public records. Your tool to these records is a Freedom of Information Act request. Learn how to file one.
Posted inResearch & Analysis
Analysis: Cost of Chicago Legal Judgments and Settlements
Despite improvements in budgeting for lawsuit costs under the Lightfoot administration, police settlements continue to exceed budgets, while other departments are not required to budget for payments.