Council Facts for Kids

A council is a group of people who meet to make decisions, give advice, or manage certain things. It's like a special team that works together to solve problems or plan for the future. You can find councils in many different areas, from local towns to large international groups.

What is a Council?
Related pages
Images for kids
See also

What is a Council?

A council is usually made up of elected members or appointed experts. Their main job is to represent people, discuss important issues, and then make choices that affect a community or organization. These decisions can be about anything from building new parks to setting rules for a country.

Councils in Government

Many councils help run our towns, cities, and even countries. They are a key part of how local and national governments work.

Local Government Councils

These councils manage the daily life of a specific area. They help with things like schools, roads, parks, and public services.

City Council: This group governs a city. They decide on local laws and how money is spent to improve the city for everyone.
Town Council: Similar to a city council, but for smaller towns or villages. They focus on the needs of their local community.
Borough Council: In some places, especially the United Kingdom, a borough council manages a specific district or part of a larger city.
Community Council: In Scotland and Wales, these are the most local groups. They represent the views of their community to larger government bodies.
County Council: This council governs a larger area called a county. They often handle services that cover many towns, like major roads or social care.
Municipal Council: This term is often used in France and other countries for the elected body that governs a municipality (a town or city).
Council (country subdivision): In Australia, this refers to a local government area. It's like a local council that manages a specific region.

Councils for Countries and Regions

Some councils work on a much larger scale, dealing with issues that affect entire countries or groups of countries.

Council of the European Union: This is a major decision-making body for the European Union. It brings together ministers from each EU country to discuss and pass laws.
United Nations Security Council: This is one of the most powerful parts of the United Nations. Its main job is to keep peace and security around the world. It can make decisions that all UN member countries must follow.

Councils in Organizations

Councils are also found in many non-government organizations. They help guide the group and make sure its goals are met.

Council (Boy Scouts): In the Boy Scouts of America, a council is a local organization that manages scouting activities in a specific area. They help organize troops and events for young people.
Workers' Council: This is a group made up of workers. They represent the interests of employees in a company or industry.
Works Council: Similar to a workers' council, this group represents employees within a specific workplace or factory. They discuss working conditions and other issues with management.

Councils in Other Areas

Councils can also be found in religious groups or even in fictional stories.

Ecumenical Council: This is a very important meeting of bishops from the entire Christian church. They meet to discuss and decide on important beliefs and practices of the church.
"The Council" (Enterprise episode): This is an episode from the TV show Star Trek: Enterprise. In the story, "The Council" refers to a group that makes important decisions for a fictional alien race.

Places Named Council

Sometimes, the word "Council" is part of a place name.

Council, Alaska: A small, historic mining community in Alaska, USA.
Council, Idaho: A small city in Idaho, USA.

Privy Council (disambiguation page)

Images for kids

GLA Chamber

Council facts for kids

Contents