The Open Government Directive is an effort to implement the three principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration that form the cornerstone of an open government.

Transparency promotes accountability by providing the public with information about what the government is doing.

Participation allows members of the public to contribute ideas and expertise so that their government can make policies with the benefit of information that is widely dispersed in society.

Collaboration improves the effectiveness of government by encouraging partnerships and cooperation within the federal government, across levels of government, and between the government and private institutions.