The Executive Council (the Council) oversees and administers the activities of the Union between General Assembly meetings. It normally meets virtually at least once per year and, in-person, every three years immediately before the in-person General Assembly.

The Executive Council is composed of the President, the President-Designate, ten Vice Presidents, the Secretary General for Administrative Affairs, the Deputy Secretary General for Administrative Affairs, the Secretary General, the Deputy Secretary General, the Associate Secretary General and the Treasurer; all elected by the General Assembly with the exception of the Deputy Secretaries General, plus the immediate Past President. The term of office of Councillors normally begins on the January 1st and ends on the December 31st immediately following two consecutive in-person General Assemblies. In exceptional circumstances the General Assembly may extend the term of office.

The President may not be re-elected. The President-Designate normally will be elected to the Presidency. Five of the Vice-Presidents shall be elected at large. Five Vice-Presidents shall be elected from among the Chairs of the Commissions. Consideration shall be given to an appropriate sub-disciplinary balance on the Council. If the President is unable to serve, the President-Designate shall assume the Presidency. The Council may fill any other vacancy that occurs between General Assemblies.

The Officers of the Executive Council are those in charge of the daily activities of the Union. To comply with their task they have periodic virtual meetings. The current Executive Council Officers are: President, President-Designate, Past President, Secretary General, Associate Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, Secretary General for Administrative Affairs, Deputy Secretary General for Administrative Affairs and Treasurer.

The Officers of the Executive Council, the Vice-President at Large for Membership and Development and the Vice-President at Large for Projects and Sponsorship form the Committee on Policy and Finance. This Committee, previously called Commission C1, stemmed from the Commission on Finance that was established by IUPAP in 1931 to examine the auditor’s report on the finances of the Union and to make appropriate recommendations to the General Assembly. In 2014, the 28th General Assembly of IUPAP resolved to rename Commission C1 as ‘C1: Commission on Policy and Finance‘ adding to its mandate the responsibility to advise the Executive Council and the General Assembly on issues related to Policy and Finance. In 2025, the 34th General Assembly approved to rename the commission as Committee on Policy and Finance and to include among its members the Vice-Presidents at Large for Membership and Development and for Projects and Sponsorship besides the Officers.