Article 1 (Open government*) Access to documents held by public bodies by those interested is guaranteed by public authorities according to the principles of publication, transparency, equality, justice, impartiality, collaboration, participation, pursuance of public interest and respect for the legally protected rights and interests3. Article 2 (Purpose) 1. This law regulates access to documents in relation to the activities of the entities mentioned in Article 3. 2. The procedure for the exercise by the citizens of their right to be informed by Public Authorities of progress in proceedings in which they have a direct interest, as well as their right to be informed of the final decisions taken thereupon, is covered by separate legislation. Article 3 (Scope) The documents referred to in the next article are documents that originate or are held by institutions of the State that have government functions and bodies of public institutions as well as statutory societies and other entities that exercise public authority in terms of the law. Article 4 (Definitions) 1. For the purposes of this law, will be deemed to be: a) administrative documents: any information media, be it print, audio, visual or digital, or any records of another nature, produced or held directly, indirectly or autonomously by public bodies, to wit, case files, reports, studies, opinion pieces, minutes, official records, circulars, ministerial memoranda, internal orders, internal 3 This law is almost identical to the Portuguese one, so where elements that can be considered as ‘unfriendly’ or possible loopholes have been added/ deleted, I have highlighted this in red. Article 18, 1.c) “President [Speaker] of Parliament” has been replaced with “President” Article 18, 4. “All members” replaces “with the exception of the Chair, all members”. A further clause then goes on to say that the Chair continues to benefit from his salary and other benefits as a judge. Articles and clauses whose omission I believe weaken the law are: [omitted] g) under Article 19: “contribute towards the clarification of, and dissemination of information about, the different forms of access to documents held by public authorities in accordance with the principle of an open administration. An article titled “Co-operation of the administration”, which said: “It shall be the duty of the members of the staff of public institutions to co-operate with the Commission; otherwise, their disciplinary liability shall be engaged.