In many permanent EMBs, EMB members have a specified term of office. Some EMBs’ terms of office are defined in relation to the legislature’s term of office. In the case of EMBs with an unspecified term of office, members remain in office once appointed until they reach retirement age, unless they resign or are removed. Usually, the chair remains in office until he or she reaches retirement age.

The advantage of limiting the term of office is that it promotes constant generation of new ideas through new appointments. However, on the flipside, such a practice may undermine institutional experience, especially if EMB members’ terms coincide with a single electoral cycle. Many electoral laws which specify limited terms of office for EMB members allow for extension of the term by mutual consent between the appointee and the appointing authority. Some countries limits EMB members to two terms of office, while others do not put a limit to EMB members’ terms of office. The terms of EMB members can also be staggered. For example, a seven-member EMB could have one seat come up for (re-)appointment each year.

Staggering EMB members’ terms of office greatly assists retention of institutional experience and provides for smooth leadership succession. If appointments to the membership of the EMB are not staggered, the new EMB members should be appointed several months the last election to allow the former EMB members to have completed and reported on their election evaluation, and long enough before the next election for the new EMB members to master their responsibilities before the election period commences.