COUNCIL (Lat. concilium), in a general sense, an assembly of persons summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice.
In Britain the history of parliamentary government is in a great measure that of the amalgamation of an advising council to the monarch, a meeting of chiefs or representatives, and an assemblage of feudal vassals. The council of the monarch became subsequently a separate body in the privy council, when at a later period it came to be the practice to select a smaller administrative body called the cabinet. See CABINET, PARLIAMENT, PRIVY COUNCIL, &c.