- the upper house of the federal legislature of Germany.
- the federal council of Switzerland and of Austria.
- (in Germany and formerly in West Germany) the council of state ministers with certain legislative and administrative powers, representing the state governments at federal level
- (in Austria) an assembly with some legislative power that represents state interests at the federal level
- (in Switzerland) the executive council of the confederation
- (in the German empire from 1871–1918) the council representing the governments of the constituent states, with administrative, judicial, and legislative powers
