US Civil Society

The United States constitution explicitly protects freedoms of speech and of the press. Most media outlets are privately owned and are provided a high level of legal independence. Despite journalists in most states not requiring to disclose their confidential sources and actively reporting on cases of corporate and official corruption, there are reports of pressure on journalists to reveal informants of leaked security information ( FitW 2015 ) . News reports are increasingly polarised but the overall media landscape retains a high degree of pluralism (FitW 2015 ). There is a strong relationship between corporate interests and media coverage. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) protects citizens' right to access official information. The media environment and the Internet in the US are considered 'free' ( FoP 2015 ; FoN 2014 ).

Civil society is well-developed in the US, where trade associations, NGOs and interest groups are offered freedom to organise and pursue civil and policy agendas (FitW 2015). The increasing influence of interest groups on the legislative and policymaking processes in the country due to their critical role in campaign fundraising, has enhanced the perception of corruption in the capital ( FitW 2014 ).