illustration for the drivers of inequality

Driver Category 6.2

Lack of mechanisms that ensure state accountability to citizens

This driver covers regulation and enforcement related to transparency and participation: the freedom of, and access to, information and the existence of a free press; it also covers the ability of citizens to formally participate, be meaningfully consulted and exercise oversight of government decisions and actions.

Guiding Questions

Transparency and access to information: general questions

  • What laws exist that govern citizen’s access to information (freedom of information laws)?
  • Does legislation explicitly state that access is the rule and secrecy the exception?
  • Does legislation make clear the access of citizens to specified types of documents?
  • In what areas are there exemptions (e.g. in relation to national security, private company data etc.)?
  • Are there clear institutional mechanisms for the law to be applied and independent oversight institutions and mechanisms for legal enforcement?
  • Do citizens have to give a justification when they approach the government with a request for information?
  • Are authorities obliged to give a written explanation of the reasons for rejecting a request?
  • What efforts is the government making to ensure citizens understand their “right to know” and are able to act upon access to information laws?
  • Are staff in government ministries, departments and agencies aware of their obligations under the law and willing to implement access to information requirements?
  • Is there any information available as to the practices of different ministries, departments and agencies in response to citizen information requests, showing where requests are particularly being ignored or rejected without reasonable grounds?
  • Does the information commissioner have sufficient investigative powers and the power to enforce compliance?
  • What is the track record of the judiciary in your country in upholding access to information principles?
  • Is the appeals procedure in place timely, affordable and accessible?

Transparency regarding political finance and politicians’ activities

  • What is the nature of existing rules related to the disclosure of political finance?
  • Do political parties have to disclose all aspects of their funding, including the specific identification of donors who provide donations exceeding a certain value?
  • Are the financial accounts of political parties made available to both the regulator and the public?
  • Do disclosure provisions distinguish between routine party finances and electoral finances?
  • What are the rules and mechanisms for the disclosure of financial information and potential conflicts of interest?
  • Do politicians have to register ‘paid outside positions’, gifts, previous employment, assets and sources of income?
  • Are parliamentarians’ expenses and allowances recorded?
  • How is this data monitored by parliament and is all information publicly disclosed?
  • What information is provided related to political lobbying?
  • Does a lobbying register exist?
  • Do lobbyists have to provide the names of their clients, the subject matters they lobby on, their income from lobbying and lobbying expenses?
  • Do they have to report any contributions to political campaigns?
  • What lobby activities are recorded (contacts with government agencies, description of legislative proposals, meetings)?
  • Are financial transactions (e.g. gifts, reimbursement for travel, hospitality) between lobbyists and public officials legal?
  • Do government officials make information publicly available regarding their meetings with lobbyists?
  • Are ministerial diary summaries published?
  • Is it possible to access information about the content of meetings between senior public officials and lobbyists under freedom of (access to) information acts?

Fiscal and budget transparency

  • Does the government make available information on government revenues, budget allocations and expenditures?
  • Are the pre-budget statement and draft budget both published in a timely fashion to allow review, dialogue and consultation?
  • Is the approved budget published as soon as it is approved?
  • Is budget information sufficiently disaggregated and clear to enable meaningful analysis?
  • Do budget documents include information on revenues from the extractives sector including disaggregated information on profit taxes, royalties, dividends, fees and concessions, in accordance with international extractives industry transparency standards?
  • Is information available on how revenues are allocated (on or off budget) between different levels of government and activities?
  • Are full accounts of state-owned natural resource companies published?
  • Does the government budget include information on tax expenditures as a result of tax concessions and preferences given to particular taxpayers or activities?
  • Is information provided on all types of tax expenditures including tax exemptions, deductions, credits, concessional tax rates and any other rules that reduce or defer a taxpayer’s liability?
  • Is there sufficient information available on the distributional outcomes of tax expenditures and who is benefiting (e.g. corporations, the non-profit sector or particular individuals)?
  • What opportunities are offered to parliament and its committees to scrutinise and engage in the budget process at all key stages of the budget cycle?
  • Are there sector-specific committees who can conduct detailed scrutiny of certain areas of the budget?
  • Is there a capable and active public accounts committee?
  • Is information provided in simplified, accessible formats for citizens and disseminated in a timely manner so that citizens can influence resource allocation?
  • Is budget data available (without fees) in open digital (machine-readable and bulk-downloadable) formats for independent research and analysis?
  • Is data sufficiently disaggregated and comparable, with public access maintained over the long-term to allow for independent tracking and monitoring?
  • Is information available on public contracting and procurement processes?
  • Is comprehensive information available on the entire contracting cycle – tender procedures, contract awards and contract execution (including information on formal complaints and disputes)?

Citizen participation and oversight

  • If freedom of information laws exist, is there any analysis available as to how these are being implemented in practice?
  • Are citizens actively and successfully using the legal framework to access information and use it to demand better government performance, reduce corruption and promote better accountability?
  • Is bureaucratic compliance adequate?
  • What procedures are in place for local and national government to involve citizens in their decision-making processes?
  • What institutional arrangements are in place for consultations with citizens and interest groups, including trade unions?
  • What is the make up of advisory bodies and commissions?
  • Does the government have any rules on the need for balance between the private sector and civil society representatives on advisory groups, or in relation to the need to restrict the access of lobbyists to these groups?
  • Is the membership of such groups, their agendas, minutes and participants’ submissions made publicly available so civil society can scrutinize their work?

Free press

  • Is there robust coverage of political news in your country?
  • Do journalists and main news media demonstrate political loyalty and a pro-government narrative?
  • Have state officials taken over any critical media companies or otherwise intervened in their management?
  • Is (and how is) independent journalism guaranteed?
  • Is the safety of journalists guaranteed?
  • Are journalists being verbally attacked or demonised by public figures?
  • Are they the subject of increased surveillance, intimidation, and/or threats of physical violence?
  • Have there been any murders or kidnappings of journalists recorded? Are cases of violent attacks, abductions, and killings of journalists increasing?
  • In what contexts of reporting are violence most commonly used (e.g. organised crime, political corruption, land and environment issues etc.)?
  • Is there use of the legal system to put pressure on journalists (such as via threats of legal action, arrests, fines or other penalties)?
  • What is the existing level of concentration of media ownership in your country?
  • What is the balance between public and private ownership across different types of national media and how is this reflected in market shares?
  • Is the media dominated by a very small number of large private firms or an individual using control of the media for their own political interests?
  • What standards are in place for commercial broadcasters and privately owned newspapers?
  • Are there regulatory requirements related to balanced content and journalistic ethics?
  • Is the regulator able to effectively monitor the sector and sanction violations and abuses (e.g. distorted coverage of important issues, pro-corporate agenda, sensationalism and bias dehumanizing ethnic minority or other groups, hate-filled narratives etc.)?

Access to information and the Internet

  • Are any websites blocked for political reasons or are there other forms of censorship or manipulation of content (whether permanently or during specific periods such as elections or times of unrest)?
  • Is digital media able to be used for social and political activism?
  • Is there evidence of government surveillance and restriction of activists’ online activities?
  • Are there repercussions for online activity, such as legal prosecution, imprisonment, physical attacks, or other forms of harassment?
  • Do Internet service providers try to slow or block sites for profit?
  • What is the position of the media regulator regarding the protection of net neutrality?

Indicators

Potential indicators to monitor the drivers of inequalities in this main driver category

  • Number of freedom of information requests made, granted and rejected
  • Number of staff employed by Information Commissioner/ombudsman and annual budget
  • Breakdown of participation on government’s advisory groups (private sector, civil society, lobbyists)
  • Number of attacks and threats recorded against journalists
  • Number of news websites blocked by government

Candidate Policies

To see related Candidate Policies in this main driver category please click here.