administrative body, administrative unit - a unit with administrative responsibilities

Security Council, SC - a permanent council of the United Nations; responsible for preserving world peace

Trusteeship Council, TC - a permanent council of the United Nations that commissions a country (or countries) to undertake the administration of a territory

Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC - a permanent council of the United Nations; responsible for economic and social conditions

NAC, North Atlantic Council - a council consisting of permanent representatives of all the member countries of NATO; has political authority and powers of decision

city council - a municipal body that can pass ordnances and appropriate funds etc.

executive council - a council that shares the supreme executive power

panchayat, panchayet, punchayet - a village council in India or southern Pakistan

privy council - an advisory council to a ruler (especially to the British crown)

works council - (chiefly Brit) a council representing employer and employees of a plant or business to discuss working conditions etc; also: a committee representing the workers elected to negotiate with management about grievances and wages etc

soviet - an elected governmental council in a Communist country (especially one that is a member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

world council - a council with representatives from different nations

Christian religion, Christianity - a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior

assembly - a group of persons gathered together for a common purpose

Council of Chalcedon - an ecumenical council of the Christian Church held in Chalcedon in 451

Council of Trent - an ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church convened in Trento in three sessions between 1545 and 1563 in response to the Reformation; redefined the Roman Catholic doctrine and abolished various ecclesiastical abuses and strengthened the papacy

Lateran Council - any of five councils of the Western Church held in the Lateran Palace

meeting - a formally arranged gathering; "next year the meeting will be in Chicago"; "the meeting elected a chairperson"

indaba - a council at which indigenous peoples of southern Africa meet to discuss some important question

Jirga - a Pashto term for a decision making assembly of male elders; "most criminal cases are handled by a tribal Jirga rather than by laws or police"

synod - a council convened to discuss ecclesiastical business

council member, councillor - a member of a council