furthermore, the assembly elects a five-member assembly council that constitutes an especially active core of the assembly. the council meets at least ten times per year and has the authority to decide on behalf of the full assembly in some matters. the council is also responsible for organizing the assembly meetings and for facilitating communication between the assembly and the directorate. the assembly council normally includes the president, two vice presidents and two elected members. while one of the vice presidents is elected for a four-year term, the other is appointed permanently, his tenure ending by retirement from the vice presidency or from the committee. currently olivier vodoz and christine beerli are the vice presidents.