The Assembly of Experts is an advisory body of the Iranian government that has the power to designate and dismiss the Supreme Leader. The 88-seat assembly consisted of directly-elected Islamic scholars ("experts") who were approved by the Guardian Council, serving eight-year terms and meeting for at least two days every six months. The number of mujtahids (experts) has ranged from 82 members in 1982 to 88 in 2016, belonging to politican factions such as the Combatant Clergy Association.