The 18th Central Committee (18th CC) was elected by the 18th Congress on 15 November 2012, and will sit until the next National Congress is convened in 2017. The Committee is composed of full members and alternate members. A member has voting rights, while an alternate does not. If a full member is removed from the CC the vacancy is then filled by an alternate member at the next committee plenum — the alternate member who received the most confirmation votes in favour is highest on the order of precedence. To be elected to the Central Committee, a candidate must be a party member for at least five years.