Council - Definition and Overview

A Council is a group of people who usually possess some powers of governance.

Examples:

• A City council or other Council in the system of Local Government in the United Kingdom, for example CCC (http://www.cornwall.gov.uk).
• The United Nations Security Council
• The United States Council on Foreign Relations
• The United Kingdom's Privy Council
• The common revolutionary organisation Workers' Councils
• Councils within European Union:
  • Council of the European Union
  • European Council

Other definitions:

• Council of Europe is an international organisation.
• In the United Kingdom it refers to the Municipality.
• In the Boy Scouts of America, councils are divisions within the National Council.
• Certain Synods are known as Ecumenical councils. A synod which is not an ecumenical council can also be called a council.
• The Xindi Council is a fictional organization from Star Trek

Council is not interchangeable with counsel or consul.

• A councilor is a member of a council, as such described above.
• A counselor provides counsel: advice and guidance, such as lawyers provide to their clients.
• A consul is a diplomatic officer.