The '''G7''' is an informal group of eight major industrialized countries: the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Japan]], [[Britain]], [[France]], [[Germany]], and [[Italy]] (plus the [[EU]] who has observer status), and between 1998 and 2014 [[Russia]]. The G8 heads of state have met annually since 1976 in summit meetings to discuss economic and political issues.
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The country holding the Chair is responsible for hosting and setting the agenda of the Summit.
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Since passage of the [[Magnitsky Act]] in 2012, or the Russia sanctions bill, Russia's membership has been suspended and the group has assumed its [[Cold War]] title as G7 again.
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Since the summits are of the highest profile with leaders from nations that control some 65% of international wealth, the [[left]] and other radical groups demonstrate to attempt to disrupt the meetings and bring attention to their causes.