A specified group of members who make decisions on behalf of the organization. The membership, authority, and limitations of this group are specified in the bylaws. Meetings of the board are usually only open to members of the board and their invitees.

• A. Committee
• B. Board of directors
• C. Management team
• D. Executive council

Answer: (B)

The governing body described is the group charged with making decisions for the organization, with its membership, authority, and limits laid out in the bylaws. That is the board of directors. The board is the central decision-making body defined by the bylaws, and its meetings are usually closed to non-board members and their invitees because these discussions involve fiduciary duties, policy decisions, and sensitive information.

A committee, by contrast, is created to handle a specific task or area and operates under the board’s authority, often reporting back to the board. It isn’t the ultimate decider for the organization. A management team refers to staff or executives who run daily operations and carry out board decisions, rather than serving as the formal governing body defined by the bylaws. An executive council, when present, is typically a subset or delegated body within the governance structure with limited scope, not the standard name for the organization’s primary decision-maker.