Based on a decision of the German Federal Government, the National Ethics Council was founded on June 8, 2001.

The National Ethics Council has up to 25 members who are appointed by the Chancellor for four years. The members are experts in the disciplines of philosophy, theology, law, social sciences, medicine and life sciences, as well as from important groups in society, like patient associations, employers’ federations and unions as well as churches.

Usually the National Ethics Council meets in Berlin on a monthly basis. The meetings are open to the public, and the minutes are published online (http://www.ethikrat.org/).

The National Ethics Council is an independent organization and is only bound by its mandate, which is laid out in the statutory decree (by-laws of the National Ethics Council).