The Council of State is the name of an organ of government in many states, and especially in republics. The name Council of State is applied to different types of bodies in different states, from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes (arguably erroneously) regarded as the republican equivalent of a privy council. The French for Council of State is "Conseil d'État".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_State