The High Council of The Salvation Army elects a new general in the event of a vacancy or prior to the retirement of the existing office holder. It can also remove a general who can no longer fulfil their duties. The council is made up of the chief of the staff, active commissioners who are territorial commanders or who hold an international or national headquarters or territorial leadership appointment (except the spouse of the general), territorial commanders with the rank of colonel, and territorial leaders with the rank of colonel.[1] It is not a governing body of the Salvation Army, and is regarded as having no continuity of existence between meetings.