politburo

noun

1. 1

   The governing council and chief policymaking body of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and other Marxist-Leninist political systems.

2. 2

   (by extension, sometimes derogatory) A senior governing or policymaking body in a political or other organization, generally consisting of members who are either appointed by the party in control of the organization, or who attain membership through their personal political affiliations.