Open Government
The policy of the state of North Carolina is to allow the public access to the business of government. We help by acting as a liaison between public officials and the public.
Open government laws are known as “sunshine laws” because they help shed light on the government’s work.
Public Records laws specify:
- What kinds of records the public may access
- Which government agencies must disclose records
- How public records laws may be enforced if agencies do not allow their records to be examined
Open Meetings laws specify:
- Which State and local public bodies must hold open meetings
- What kind of notice public bodies must give before holding meetings
- Under what circumstances a public body may enter into a closed session
- How citizens may enforce the open meetings law if a public body attempts to exclude them from a meeting or fails to give proper notice
Read the
Guide to Open Goverment we developed along with the NC Press Association. Call or
email the Attorney General’s Victim & Citizen Services section at (919) 716-6780 to get help on open government issues.