Final answer:
An ex-officio seat on a board is held by the individual who holds a certain office or position, which grants them membership by virtue of their role, as seen with positions like the Fed Chair and Speaker of the House.
Step-by-step explanation:
An ex-officio seat on a board is held by A. The individual who holds a certain office or position. This means that the person gains their seat by virtue of the office they hold, rather than through an election or appointment specifically to the board. This concept is often applied in various organizations, including government and corporate entities.
For example, the Fed Chair is an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Though the Fed Chair has only one vote, like the other members, they exert significant control over the agenda and serve as the public voice of the Fed, yielding more power and influence than might be assumed from their voting capacity alone. Similarly, leadership positions such as the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the entire body of representatives, demonstrate the importance of officeholders in governmental structures.