Editing Council

{{Short description|Group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Distinguish|counsel}}
[[File:GLA Chamber.jpg|thumb|[[Greater London Authority]] Chamber]]

A '''council''' is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Council Definition |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/council}}</ref> A council may function as a [[legislature]], especially at a [[town]], [[city]] or [[county]]/[[shire]] level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or national level are not considered councils. At such levels, there may be no separate [[executive branch]], and the council may effectively represent the entire [[government]]. A [[board of directors]] might also be denoted as a council.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

A [[committee]] might also be denoted as a council, though a committee is generally a subordinate body composed of members of a larger body, while a council may not be.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} Because many schools have a [[student council]], the council is the form of governance with which many people are likely to have their first experience as electors or participants.

A member of a council may be referred to as a '''councillor''' or '''councilperson''', or by the gender-specific titles of '''councilman''' and '''councilwoman'''.

==In politics==
Notable examples of types of councils encountered in politics include:

* [[Borough]] council, a form of local government
* [[Catholic ecumenical councils]], ecclesiastical gatherings for ordering the Catholic Church.
* [[City council]], a form of local government.
* [[Community council]], the most local official representative body in Scotland and in Wales.
* [[Council of Europe]], a political, intergovernmental organization with 47 member countries.
* [[Council of the European Union]], the upper house of the European Union.
* [[Council of state]], an organ of government in many states.
* [[County council]], a council that governs a county in the British Isles.
* [[District council (disambiguation)|District council]], a unit of government in various jurisdictions.
* [[Ecumenical council]], pan-Christian discussion bodies.
* [[European Council]], the body of heads of states or of governments of the European Union.
* [[Labour council]], an association of labour unions or union branches in a given area.
* [[Municipal council]], a form of local government.
* [[National security council]], an executive-branch governmental body responsible for coordinating policy on national security issues.
* [[Parish council (England)]], a form of local government in part of the United Kingdom.
* [[Privy council]], a body that advises the head of state of a country.
* [[Provincial council (disambiguation)|Provincial council]], a governing body for a province.
* [[Regional Council (disambiguation)|Regional council]], a local-government body in various countries.
* [[Shire council]], an entity of local government in Australia.
* [[Shura Council]], the formerly [[upper house]] of the Egyptian parliament.
* [[Town council]], a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or parishes
* [[Tribal council]], First Nations' and Native American Nations' governing bodies
* [[Research Councils UK]], government agencies responsible for an area of research in the United Kingdom
* [[United Nations Security Council]], a decision-making body at the United Nations
* [[Vatican Council (disambiguation)|Vatican Council]], a high-level policy-council of the Roman Catholic Church
* [[Village council (State of Palestine)]], a local-government body in Palestine
* [[Workers' council]], a council composed of working-class or proletarian members.

==In other fields==
Types of councils encountered in other spheres include:
* [[Arts council]]: a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts.
* [[Bar council]]: a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the Inns of Court.
* [[Buddhist councils]]: important historical events in the history of Buddhism.
* [[Council (Boy Scouts)]]: a non-profit private corporation within [[Boy Scouts of America]].
* [[Ecumenical council]]: a meeting of the bishops of the whole church convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice.
* [[Military council]]:
* [[Science research council]]
* [[Student council]]: a student organization present in many elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities.
* [[Synod]]: in a Christian church.
* [[University Council]]: running a university.
* [[Council of war|War Council]]: discussions pertaining to a declaration of war, or tactics and strategy of a coming battle.
* [[Works council]]: a body representing the workers of a plant, factory, etc., elected to negotiate with the management about working conditions, wages, etc.
* [[Youth council]]: an example of youth voice engaged in youth-led decision-making.

== References ==
<references />

== See also ==
* [[Consul]]
* [[Legislative Council]]
* [[Pontifical Council]]
* [[Local government in Australia]]
* [[United Nations Security Council]]
*[[Directorial system]]: a form is government where a group of people act as the head of State and/or Government.
{{Commonscat-inline|Councils}}
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[[Category:Councils| ]]
[[Category:Deliberative groups]]
[[Category:Legislatures]]