What term describes a private meeting of board members not open to the general membership?

What term describes a private meeting of board members not open to the general membership?

• A. Closed meeting
• B. Public session
• C. Executive session
• D. Special meeting

Answer: (C)

Executive session describes a private portion of a meeting limited to board members and other authorized participants, not open to the general membership. It’s used to discuss confidential matters—such as personnel issues, legal concerns, or sensitive negotiations—in a setting where candid, private deliberation is appropriate. In Robert’s Rules, going into executive session protects privacy and allows the group to consider delicate topics without external input; attendance is restricted and the proceedings are kept confidential to the extent allowed by the rules. After the session, any actions that need to be reported to the full body are handled in an open meeting, preserving transparency for matters that require it. Public session is the opposite—it's open to all members. Special meeting refers to scheduling and convening outside the usual meeting times and does not inherently imply privacy or confidentiality. A closed meeting is not the formal term used in Robert’s Rules for this concept, though some organizations might use it informally to mean the same private gathering.

Executive session describes a private portion of a meeting limited to board members and other authorized participants, not open to the general membership. It’s used to discuss confidential matters—such as personnel issues, legal concerns, or sensitive negotiations—in a setting where candid, private deliberation is appropriate. In Robert’s Rules, going into executive session protects privacy and allows the group to consider delicate topics without external input; attendance is restricted and the proceedings are kept confidential to the extent allowed by the rules. After the session, any actions that need to be reported to the full body are handled in an open meeting, preserving transparency for matters that require it.

Public session is the opposite—it's open to all members. Special meeting refers to scheduling and convening outside the usual meeting times and does not inherently imply privacy or confidentiality. A closed meeting is not the formal term used in Robert’s Rules for this concept, though some organizations might use it informally to mean the same private gathering.