5 ILCS 120/1

(5 ILCS 120/1) (from Ch. 102, par. 41)

Sec. 1.

Policy.

It is the public policy of this State that public
bodies exist to aid in
the conduct of the people's business and that the people have a right to be
informed as to the conduct of their business. In order that the people
shall be informed, the General Assembly finds and declares that it is the
intent of this Act to ensure that the actions of public bodies be taken
openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly.

The General Assembly further declares it to be the public policy of this
State that its citizens shall be given advance notice of and the right to
attend all meetings at which any business of a public body is discussed or
acted upon in any way. Exceptions to the public's right to attend exist
only in those limited circumstances where the General Assembly has
specifically determined that the public interest would be clearly
endangered or the personal privacy or guaranteed rights of individuals would
be clearly in danger of unwarranted invasion.

To implement this policy, the General Assembly declares:

(1) it is the intent of this Act to protect the