It’s common for citizens to have questions about where their tax dollars are going and what elected officials are doing behind closed doors.

Constitutionally, you not only the right to ask those questions, but the right to get answers. Next week, a seminar in downtown Pensacola will show you how.

The First Amendment Foundation is presenting the 2014 Sunshine Seminar on Oct. 8 in downtown Pensacola. The event is open to the public and will provide a primer on public records, open meetings statutes and other freedom-of-information-laws written pursuant to the Florida Constitution.

Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation, will provide an overview of what the sunshine laws mean for citizens and how they are applied. Representatives of the Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee will discuss open government, the First Amendment and media law.

The seminar will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Heritage Hall in Seville Quarter.

The event is presented by the Pensacola News Journal, the First Amendment Foundation, the League of Women Voters and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Registration is $15 for members of the First Amendment Foundation, $30 or non-members, $20 for members of the League of Women Voters and $10 for students.

For registration information, call (800) 337-3518 or visit floridafaf.org.