When thinking of government, what often comes to mind is a strong pillar of society that maintains strength within a nation, and is the face of its international dealings. For a government to be effective, there must be trust among the people and the institution, or it is vulnerable. Political corruption has an ‘’every man for himself’’ mentality, the consequences are not theirs. Governments that have unclear policies end up not only hurting the people but deterring possible investors. Countries with weaker judicial systems often fall prey to corruption, but developed countries are far from being innocent. Government officials working in their best interests, and not of the municipality, province, territory, state or country cause misrepresentation of the citizens’ needs, causing a lack of action on important issues. Transparency should be in all branches of government. No transparency means little accountability, and that is dangerous. People’s ignorance means ineffective public oversight, and the cycle of corruption continues. If everyone has the right to access the documents and proceedings of the government, they can stay informed and hold their government accountable, with public opinion, consultation, and evaluations of institutions.