New York Law (NYLE) Practice Exam

What might a public body discuss in an executive session?

1. Mundane operational details

2. Organizational charts and plans

3. Confidential matters such as personnel issues

4. All-to-everyone decisions

The correct answer is: Confidential matters such as personnel issues

Executive sessions are special meetings held by public bodies in which they can discuss matters that require confidentiality. These private discussions typically pertain to sensitive topics that, if disclosed publicly, could violate privacy rights or affect the interests of individuals or the organization. Confidential matters such as personnel issues fall squarely within the realm of what can be discussed in an executive session. This could include discussions about hiring, firing, performance evaluations, or other private matters that involve employee privacy or sensitive organizational information. In contrast, mundane operational details and organizational charts do not generally require the level of confidentiality that justifies an executive session. Instead, these topics can typically be discussed in public meetings, as they do not relate to sensitive or personal issues. All-to-everyone decisions also pertain to general policies and actions that do not require secrecy, therefore are unlikely to be part of an executive session as they involve transparency with the public.