Executive session
{{Short description|Closed part of an otherwise open meeting}}
An executive session is a term for any block within an otherwise open meeting (often of a board of directors or other deliberative assembly) in which minutes are taken separately or not at all, outsiders are not present, and the contents of the discussion are treated as confidential (see in camera). In a deliberative assembly, an executive session has come to mean that the proceedings are secret and members could be punished for violating the secrecy.{{Cite book |last=Robert |first=Henry M. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1190759264 |title=Robert's rules of order newly revised |date=2020 |others=Sarah Corbin Robert, Henry M. Robert, William J. Evans, Daniel H. Honemann, Thomas J. Balch, Daniel E. Seabold, Shmuel Gerber |isbn=978-1-5417-9771-0 |edition=12th |location=New York |at=9:24-27 |oclc=1190759264}}
Depending on the organization or governmental body involved, business that is conducted in executive session could include legal issues, discussion on contracts (such as to purchase land, or offer tax incentives to a corporation moving to an area), and personnel issues (such as hiring and firing).{{Cite web|title = Executive Session Defined|url = http://www.davis-stirling.com/MainIndex/ExecutiveSessionDefined/tabid/1769/Default.aspx|website = www.davis-stirling.com|access-date = 2016-01-30}}{{Cite web|title = The Who, When, and Why of Board Executive Sessions|url = https://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/ANowDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=570513|website = www.asaecenter.org|access-date = 2016-01-30}}{{Cite web|title = Should the Board Hold Executive Sessions? {{!}} Blue Avocado|url = http://www.blueavocado.org/content/should-board-hold-executive-sessions|website = www.blueavocado.org| date=2 August 2008 |access-date = 2016-01-30}}
Use in the United States Senate
{{United States Senate}}
An executive session is a portion of the United States Senate's daily session in which it considers nominations and treaties, or other items introduced by the President of the United States.{{Cite web|title = United States Senate Manual, 106th Congress-Rule XXXI:EXECUTIVE SESSION--PROCEEDINGS ON NOMINATIONS|url = https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/SMAN-106/html/SMAN-106-pg54.htm|website = www.gpo.gov|access-date = 2016-01-30}} These items are termed executive business; therefore, the session is an executive session.{{Cite web|title = executive session glossary term|url = https://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/executive_session.htm|website = www.senate.gov|access-date = 2016-01-30}} It can either be closed door or open door. Historically,{{when|date=June 2016}} as a courtesy to the President, such sessions were always held behind closed doors, but this custom has been abandoned in modern times. The term "executive session" is still employed to refer to closed-door committee meetings, whether or not they are considering executive business.
An executive session may also be used in other legislatures.{{Cite web|title = General Laws: CHAPTER 30A, Section 21|url = https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIII/Chapter30A/Section21|website = malegislature.gov|access-date = 2016-01-30|publisher = The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.senate.gov.ph/about/rules.asp#RULE_XLVII|title = Rules of the Senate - Senate of the Philippines (RULE XLVII - EXECUTIVE SESSION)|access-date = 2016-01-30|website = www.senate.gov.ph|publisher = Senate of the Philippines}}{{Cite web|title = Liberia: Senate Rushes Into Executive Session|url = http://allafrica.com/stories/201411121031.html|website = allAfrica.com|access-date = 2016-01-30|last = Carter|first = J. Burgess|date = November 12, 2014|publisher = Liberian Observer|others = Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media}}