“Is it decent, can it be just that these prerogatives should be exercised by any power less than the supreme or be decided by any authority but that which most adequately represents the voice of a nation? This principle ought, beyond question, to be extended universally. There can be no just reason for excluding the national representative from the exercise of any function, the exercise of which, on the part of the society, is in any case necessary.
The functions therefore of ministers and magistrates, commonly so called, do not relate to any particular topic respecting which they have a right exclusive of the representative assembly. They do not relate to any supposed necessity for secrecy; for secrecy in political affairs … is rarely salutary or wise, and secrets of state will commonly be found to consist of that species of information relative to the interest of a society respecting which the chief anxiety of its depositories is that it should be concealed from the members of that society.

It is the duty of the assembly to desire information without reserve, for themselves and the public, upon every subject of general importance and it is the duty of ministers and others to communicate such information – though it should not be expressly desired. The utility therefore of ministerial functions being, in a majority of instances, less than nothing in these respects, there are only two classes of utility that remain to them; particular functions such as those of financial detail or minute superintendence which cannot be exercised unless by one or a small group of persons, and measures proportioned to the demand of those necessities which will not admit of delay – and subject to the revision and censure of the deliberative assembly. The latter of these classes will perpetually diminish as man advances in improvement. Nor can anything politically be of greater importance than the reduction of that discretionary power in an individual which may greatly affect the interests or fetter the deliberations of the many.”
– Godwin, ‘Of Legislative and Executive Power, An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice.’.