WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

governing body
    n 1: the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up
         a body for the purpose of administering something; "he
         claims that the present administration is corrupt"; "the
         governance of an association is responsible to its
         members"; "he quickly became recognized as a member of the
         establishment" [syn: administration, governance,
         governing body, establishment, brass, organization,
         organisation]