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10,174
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1
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Representatives has customarily met in public since its
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2
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inception, and the Senate since 1794; most congressional work
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3
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is now done in committee, however, and approximately one-
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4
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third of the committee meetings have been closed.
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5
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Thirty-four of the Stages have constitutional
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6
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requirements that the legislature meet in public; in the
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7
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others legislative sessions are open as a matter of custom.
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8
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Apparently no State, however, has a constitutional require-
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9
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ment of open meetings applicable to any governmental body
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10
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other than the legislature."
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11
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I might point out that in some decisions it
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12
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has been argued that the First Amendment, freedom of the
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13
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press and freedom of speech, include a right to freedom
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14
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of information, and I would read you just a short statement
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15
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from a judge in a dissenting opinion in interpreting
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16
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this languageJudge Musmanno in Pennsylvania stated: "A
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17
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print shop without material to print would be as meaningless
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18
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as a vineyard without grapes, an orchard without fruit, or
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19
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a lawn without color. Freedom of the press means to gather
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20
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news, write it, publish and circulate it."
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21
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Provide for open meetings. It also provides that
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