The North Carolina Council was a colonial-era advisory board that assisted the governor and served as a ruling body that could make decisions within the colony and advocate on the colony's behalf to leadership back in England. The council typically consisted of a group of 6 to 12 men nominated by the governor, or during the proprietary era, by the Lords Proprietors. Prior to 1712, the North Carolina Council also served as the colony's general court, or the highest court of law within the colony.

After 1731, the council functioned as the upper house of the colonial legislature and as an advisory board for the governor. The council had to power to make decrees and grant land, and in the absence of the governor, the president of the council assumed leadership of the colony. Though it was called a governor's council, the body's members were not necessarily selected by the governor, but also nominated and approved by the Privy Council back in England, meaning that the council and the governor could frequently butt heads.

After the American Revolution, the North Carolina Council transformed into the Council of State, which serves as the governor's cabinet today.