Rhode Island reforms enacted between 1986 and 2006:
Under public pressure, the General Assembly placed constitutional amendments on the ballot, and Rhode Island voters approved major changes in all three branches of state government. These amendments strengthened the foundation of representative democracy:
Many citizen organizations and coalitions promoted passage of laws that make Rhode Island government more open, ethical, and accountable to the people:
Even the General Assembly's website history now calls the years from 1984-2000 "The Era of Reform."
Three times Chicago’s Better Government Association has scored state laws that promote integrity, accountability, and government transparency. In 50-state rankings, Rhode Island was second in 2002 and 2008, first in 2013—largely because of reforms reported in SECRETS & SCANDALS.
Under public pressure, the General Assembly placed constitutional amendments on the ballot, and Rhode Island voters approved major changes in all three branches of state government. These amendments strengthened the foundation of representative democracy:
- Established an Ethics Commission with constitutional powers to adopt a Code of Ethics for all public officials and prosecute violators (1986, briefly blocked by RI Supreme Court in 2009 but restored by voters in 2016),
- Strengthened the executive branch through four-year terms for statewide general officers (1992),
- Established an open system for Merit Selection of all Rhode Island judges (1994),
- Modernized and downsized the General Assembly (1994),
- Established Separation of Powers that ended legislative control of public and quasi-public boards (2004),
- Restored the right to vote for persons convicted of felonies upon their release from prison (2006).
Many citizen organizations and coalitions promoted passage of laws that make Rhode Island government more open, ethical, and accountable to the people:
- Prohibited nepotism by government officials (1991, 2006),
- Outlawed “revolving door” jobs for state appointed and elected officials (1991, 1992) and for municipal elected officials (2006),
- Streamlined, strengthened and opened up the Ethics Commission (1992),
- Reformed campaign contribution disclosure and limits, outlawed corporate contributions and personal use of campaign funds (1992),
- Enabled retirement officials to reduce or revoke pensions of officials who commit felonies on the job (1992),
- Established stringent new disclosure requirements for lobbyists (2004),
- Strengthened public access to government meetings and records (1998),
- Created online access to legislative information (1994),
- Required online filing and disclosure of campaign finance reports (2001, fully operational 2007),
- Improved voter registration and other election procedures (1989, 2002, 2006),
- Made the process of legislative redistricting more open and accountable to the public (1992 and 2002),
- Protected citizens from SLAPP-suits (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) when they petition government (1995),
- Created a new ballot advocacy process that enables grassroots groups to campaign for or against referenda (2006),
- Closed loopholes and gaps in reporting by public officials, lobbyists, and state vendors (2006),
- Repealed or reconstructed 65 public or quasi-public boards to comply with the 2004 Separation of Powers Amendment (2005-2006).
Even the General Assembly's website history now calls the years from 1984-2000 "The Era of Reform."
Three times Chicago’s Better Government Association has scored state laws that promote integrity, accountability, and government transparency. In 50-state rankings, Rhode Island was second in 2002 and 2008, first in 2013—largely because of reforms reported in SECRETS & SCANDALS.