The Elders make important decisions about the community. They watch students during school hours also during recreation and volunteer hours in order to give students their appropriate assignments. At the age of twelve the elders don't just pick their assign jobs, but they also pick who the student must marry, where to live, which child they may have, even what name the student will be given. When the elders have difficulties making decisions, they consult the Giver, who holds all the memories for all of the people and can inform them of past decisions. The committee of elders are responsible for making all of the decisions in their society. They watch children as they are growing up and decide what assignments to give. The Chief Elder is the leader of the community who is newly elected every ten years. At the December ceremony, the Chief Elder makes speeches and gives out Assignments to the elevens. In Jonas time, the Chief Elder is a woman.