The Committee on Critical Ethnic Studies functions to keep the ASA's Executive Council and the association’s membership informed of the current activities, interests, and professional concerns affecting Ethnic Studies programs, departments, and scholars; acts as a liaison among association standing committees; is responsible for liaisons with other ethnic studies organizations, and is responsibile for special tasks involving Ethnic Studies scholars and scholarship. The Committee on Critical Ethnic Studies is composed of six members of the association named by the Executive Committee with the approval of the Council, following an open call to the membership for self-nominations and suggestions. Each of these six members shall serve three-year, non-renewable, staggered terms. The chair of the Committee on Critical Ethnic Studies is named from the committee’s membership by the Executive Committee with the approval of the Council and serves a single term not to exceed three years.