The Better Government Association–the only Illinois non-profit holding power to account through investigative and ...

The BGA is a non-partisan, non-profit news organization and civic advocate working for transparency, efficiency and accountability in government in Chicago and across Illinois.

Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz about something called ranked choice voting. Instead of marking their ballots for just one candidate, voters are asked to rank two or three or more, with the winner ...

Understanding the structure of the courts is important because all courts ultimately need to answer to the Supreme Court who has “ [g]eneral administrative and supervisory authority over all courts ”.

Chicago taxpayers are on the hook for an average $93.6 million a year for legal judgments and settlements against the city. A Better Government Association policy team analysis found that after years ...

Access to government documents is fundamental in our system of open government. You have a right to know what your governments are doing. One way people, groups, corporations or organizations can ...

A series of new lobbying priorities announced by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at a press conference last week included tweaks to revenues the city currently receives from the state government, but ...

The recent Supreme Court FOIA ruling significantly broadens exemptions to FOIA, raising concerns about transparency. Learn more from the Better Government Association.

Salaries and bonuses for Chicago police officers represented by the Fraternal Order of Police in 2024 could exceed the budgeted position costs approved by City Council by $76.8 million or more, ...

Chair Kifowit, Vice Chair Rohr, Rep. Reick, members of the committee: Thank you for the invitation to speak today about one of the most important issues facing our state: How to reinvest in our ...

With 852 separate districts, Illinois has the third most school districts in the nation, bested only by Texas and California, whose populations are more than double ours.