Bill Overview
Title: SUNLIGHT Act of 2022
Description: This bill generally requires that each final opinion issued by the Office of Legal Counsel be made publicly available within a specified time frame.
Sponsors: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8]
Target Audience
Population: People interested in governmental transparency and legal frameworks
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The SUNLIGHT Act of 2022 aims to increase transparency in the Office of Legal Counsel's legal interpretations, which could impact public understanding of legal justifications used by the executive branch.
- It primarily affects those interested in government accountability, transparency, and legal interpretations—potentially impacting legal professionals, academics, journalists, and civic organizations across the globe.
- The increased transparency may also influence policies and legal frameworks internationally as U.S. legal reasoning and decisions are often referenced globally.
Reasoning
- The population affected by this policy primarily includes individuals who are engaged with governmental transparency and legal frameworks. This includes legal professionals, academics, journalists, and civic-minded organizations.
- The policy is not expected to drastically affect the wellbeing of ordinary citizens who are not directly involved in government oversight or legal professions.
- Given the budget limitations and the focus of the policy, the impact on wellbeing will mostly revolve around professional satisfaction and possibly minor shifts in trust towards government processes among those who are concerned with these matters.
- Some individuals might see a small improvement in their perception of government accountability, reflected in slightly improved Cantril wellbeing scores.
- This simulated population needs to consider a variety of demographics, including age, occupation, and location to provide insights into how diverse segments might react.
Simulated Interviews
journalist (Washington D.C.)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've always believed that government transparency is crucial for democracy. With this bill, I hope to see more accountability.
- Knowing the reasoning behind legal decisions is important for the public to be informed and for the press to provide context.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
legal scholar (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This increases transparency which aids research and teaching.
- I'm eager to see how this will affect legal discourse in academia and beyond.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
civic activist (New York City, New York)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a positive step toward government accountability, which is central to our mission.
- The availability of this information enables better advocacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
government official (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 52 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While transparency is good, enforcing constraints on federal entities can create more work for us.
- It's important to balance transparency with operational efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
software developer (Austin, Texas)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More transparency might allow us to develop better apps related to government accountability.
- Having access to legal interpretations enhances the public's understanding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
graduate student (San Francisco, California)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy fits well with my studies and improves my sources for research.
- Access to these legal interpretations will be a valuable resource as I pursue my career.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
retired judge (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency in legal processes is always admirable.
- Retiring doesn't mean I'm disinterested, and this development is promising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
environmental lawyer (Portland, Oregon)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having access to legal opinions helps in preparing cases and legal arguments.
- It ensures that legal precedents are understood and applied correctly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
media analyst (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency in legal counsel adds depth to my analyses and reporting.
- It strengthens the narratives about government operation when everything is in the open.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
public sector employee (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Public access to legal opinions aligns with ensuring informed policy implementation.
- While it's beneficial, access to this level of detail isn't vital for my daily duties.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $2300000 (Low: $1800000, High: $2800000)
Year 3: $2200000 (Low: $1700000, High: $2700000)
Year 5: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 10: $1800000 (Low: $1300000, High: $2300000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Key Considerations
- Long-term costs could potentially decrease as technologies and procedures become streamlined.
- Although direct financial costs are limited, potential indirect benefits include increased trust in government and public engagement.
- Privacy and national security cannot be compromised; careful assessment and redaction processes can add complexities and costs.