Legal Definitions - ex officio member

An ex officio member is a member of an organization or committee who holds their position by virtue of their office or position in another organization. They have all the rights and privileges of a regular member, except for those that are specifically reserved for certain classes of membership.

• A university president who serves as an ex officio member of the school's board of trustees.
• A government official who serves as an ex officio member of a committee related to their area of expertise.
• A CEO who serves as an ex officio member of a company's board of directors.

These examples illustrate how an ex officio member is someone who is automatically granted membership in an organization or committee due to their position or role in another entity. They have the same rights and responsibilities as other members, but their membership is tied to their position rather than being elected or appointed.