Established in 1776, the North Carolina Council of State is a board of elected officers who serve the state government and make up part of the executive branch. The state governor is considered the head of the council, who oversees and receives counsel from the other members, including the lieutenant governor, state auditor, treasurer, and secretary of state. The Council of State is a successor to the North Carolina Council of the colonial period. The council is established by the state constitution, but its power has declined since the Civil War. As of 2023, there are 10 members of the council.