A council is a group of people who usually possess some powers of governance. It may refer to:

Civic or civil use:

• City council, county council or other council in the system of Local Government in the United Kingdom.
• United Nations Security Council
• Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank
• Privy Council, a body that advises the head of state of a nation, especially in a monarchy
• Local government area, in Australian English, a geographical area
• Municipality, in the United Kingdom
• Council (Boy Scouts), in the Boy Scouts of America, divisions within the National Council
• Council (subnational entity)

Ecclesiastical use:

• Ecumenical council, or general council, a meeting of the bishops of the whole Christian Church
• a regional meeting of bishops, sometimes called a synod

International bodies:

• Council of Europe, an international organisation
• Workers' Councils, a revolutionary organisation
• Councils within the European Union:
  • Council of the European Union
  • European Council
• Councils within the African Union
  • Peace and Security Council
  • Economic, Social and Cultural Council

In literature

• Xindi Council, a fictional organization from Star Trek: Enterprise
• "The Council (Enterprise episode)", a third season episode of Star Trek: Enterprise

Council is not interchangeable with counsel or consul.

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

Rat | Consejo | 理事会