Originally posted at Californians Aware.
Australian politician Peter Finn once quipped, “A basic tenet of a healthy democracy is open dialogue and transparency.”
To this end, the Ralph M. Brown Act was passed more than 60 years ago by the California Legislature, increasing transparency and guaranteeing the public’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies. Though now considered a bedrock of California’s local government scene, the intricacies of the Brown Act can sometimes be difficult to grasp.
Californians Aware: The Center for Public Forum Rights has published a handy and well-referenced guide to understanding the Brown Act in short.
Click here to view “10 Points to Remember About Access to Local Government Meetings” or check out their report below:
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What is Californians Aware?
It’s a nonprofit organization established to help journalists and others keep Californians aware of what they need to know to hold government and other powerful institutions accountable for their actions. Its mission is to support and defend open government, an enquiring press and a citizenry free to exchange facts and opinions on public issues. In short, Californians Aware will be a center for information, guidance and initiatives in public forum law.