Presidium (noun)

1. A group of people who manage the affairs of an organization, often a political organization, and make decisions on its behalf.
2. The chair and other officers of a meeting or assembly who preside over its business.

Origin:

From latin praesidium, meaning 'a guard, protection', from praesidēre 'to watch over, to guard', from prae 'before' + sidēre 'to sit'.

Examples:

1. The Presidium of the Soviet Union was the collective head of state from the mid-1920s to the early 1990s.
2. The Presidium of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the highest policy-making government institution of the Soviet Union.
3. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was the highest legislative government institution in the Soviet Union from 1938 to 1991.
4. The presidium of the local council was responsible for maintaining order during the meeting.
5. The presidium of the congress was composed of five members elected by the members of the congress.