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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The United States of America was founded on the 
3principles of an open and participatory
government; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution 
5guarantees the rights of freedom of speech,
religion, press, 
6assembly, and petition; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Every citizen in our participatory democracy has 
8an inherent right to access to government
meetings and public 
9records; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, An open and accessible government is vital to 
11establishing and maintaining the people's trust
and confidence 
12in their government and in the government's ability to 
13effectively serve its citizens; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The protection of every person's right of access 
15to public records and government meetings is
an important part 
16of a representative democracy; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Illinois units of government should strive for 
18openness and transparency in all aspects of their
operations 
19and seek to set a standard in this regard; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, The American Society of News Editors and the 
2Illinois Press Association celebrate annually the
openness of 
3American democracy and government during Sunshine Week in honor 
4of founding father
and open government advocate, James Madison; 
5therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 11 
8through March
18, 2018 as "Sunshine Week", a week devoted to 
9the openness and transparency of government,
commemorating the 
10anniversary of James Madison's birth; and be it further
  
 
11    RESOLVED, That we will work diligently throughout the year 
12to enhance the public's
access to government records and 
13information, and to ensure that all meetings of deliberative 
14bodies and committees are fully noticed and open
to the public.