A meeting in the room used by the Council of Elders © German Bundestag

The Council of Elders comprises the President of the German Bundestag, the Vice-Presidents and 23 other Members. These are not necessarily the oldest parliamentarians, but certainly need to possess great experience of political life.

The Council of Elders assists the President of the German Bundestag in his or her work, helping to ensure that the business of the Bundestag is coordinated effectively and conducted as smoothly as possible. For example, it sets the dates of sitting weeks well in advance and then agrees the plenary agenda on an ongoing basis.

Furthermore, the Council of Elders is a forum where disputes that have arisen are discussed and mediated. On account of the wide range of duties it performs, the Council of Elders appoints commissions that give it specialist support.