You have a fundamental right to know what your government is doing, and that includes the right to inspect public records and the right to attend public meetings.

FOG works to make sure these rights are strong and available to everyone. Sometimes, this means assisting individual citizens who are denied information by local or state government. It also means strengthening and broadening freedom-of-information laws through legislation and litigation. And it means educating the public and public officials about the letter and spirit of sunshine laws.

FOG works year-round to:

• Provide information about sunshine laws. The FOG Hotline dispenses information and advice to over 200 callers per year. Submit your question to 505-764-3750, 888-843-9121 or info@nmfog.org.

• Educate citizens and public officials about open government. Our training seminars help ensure that New Mexico's robust sunshine laws are actually being read, understood and used in the real world. We also inform public officials if we believe they're violating sunshine laws, and we keep our members and the broader public apprised of new developments and challenges in open government.

• Lobby for stronger freedom-of-information laws. During legislative sessions, FOG is at the Roundhouse to promote greater access and oppose new secrecy laws. Our landmark successes include a major overhaul of the Inspection of Public Records Act and Open Meetings Act in 1993, and the opening of legislative conference committees in 2009. Now we're focused on reforming sunshine laws to keep pace with modern technology, and we oppose overreaching secrecy provisions whenever they pop up.

• Argue for court decisions that uphold public access. New Mexico sunshine laws are strong, but the courts inevitably need to play umpire from time to time. As the leading expert on state sunshine law, FOG tries to weigh in whenever major freedom-of-information cases come before an appellate court. And on several occasions, we have initiated or joined open-government lawsuits in district court.

• Make sure the 'fine print' in records and meetings policies is citizen-friendly. State law lays out broad principles and minimum requirements, but local policy is where rubber meets the road. FOG has worked with numerous agencies over the years to promote records and meetings policies that not only respect legal rights but also provide equitable, convenient and low-cost access to information and a positive customer-service experience for citizens.

• Recognize open-government champions. Since 2002, FOG has given the William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award to people who advance open government in the areas of law, journalism, education, government and business. The annual awards banquet also serves as our primary fundraiser.

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors
must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

 – James Madison