The European Court of Auditors consists of one national from each Member State of the European Union, and these Members form a college. Initially, there were nine Members. They are appointed for a six-year renewable term. However, when the first appointments were made, four Members of the Court received a mandate limited to four years in order to avoid the need to renew the entire college in the future. If a Member ends his duties by resigning, the vacancy caused is filled for the remainder of the Member's term in office.