Terms of office of a board or committee arranged in such a way that only a percentage of the terms end at the same time.

• A. Concurrent terms
• B. Rotating terms
• C. Fixed terms
• D. Staggered terms

Answer: (D)

Staggered terms ensure continuity by spreading term expirations over multiple years, so only a portion of seats come up for election in any given period. This arrangement keeps experienced members in place while regularly bringing in new perspectives, maintaining stable governance and institutional memory.

For example, a nine-member board might set three-year terms and elect three members each year. In this setup, not all terms end at once, so the board retains familiarity and leadership across transitions.

If all terms ended together (concurrent terms), the entire board could turn over in a single election, risking a sudden loss of expertise. Fixed terms describe the length of terms but don’t specify that expirations are staggered. Rotating terms can imply turnover, but staggered terms is the standard phrase that clearly denotes expirations occurring in different years, aligning with the idea of partial, ongoing turnover.