Question
` Are elected officials allowed to sit in the audience while acting in their official capacity during meetings?
Answer
California has a number of laws addressing government meetings, including the Brown Act (which covers the legislative bodies of local agencies), the Bagley-Keene Act (which covers state executive agencies), and the Grunsky-Burton Open Meeting Act, which covers the State Legislature.
If the elected official is a member of the legislative body of a local agency, then the Brown Act would be most relevant, but I am not aware of any provisions in the Brown Act regarding where elected officials may or may not sit during meetings. You may want to check the legislative body’s bylaws, as the body’s local rules might address seating arrangements.
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