FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE: A part of the Federal Reserve System that's specifically responsible for directing open market operations, and is more generally charged with guiding the nation's monetary policy. The FOMC includes the 7 members of the Fed's Board of Governors and 5 of the 12 presidents of Federal Reserve District Banks. The chairman of the Federal Reserve System is also the chairman of the FOMC. The FOMC meets every 45 days to evaluate monetary policy. See also | Federal Reserve System | Board of Governors | Board of Governors, Chairman | monetary policy | open market operations | Federal Reserve District Bank | open market |