But within this diversity, four structures stand out as most commonly used, often in combination, across particular systems: Advisory councils: many countries have a high-level council for science (or science and innovation) policy.
But for this concept to be taken any further, European ministers will need to approve a budget at their high-level council in 2012.
"During one of the worst housing crises this country has faced, with demand at sky-high levels, councils are being hamstrung," said Mike Jones, chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) environment and housing board.
On a tour to promote the fifth year of the Elders, Robinson said the work of the group, a sort of high-level advisory council, had become more urgent in the face of economic and political turmoil and signs of an increasing democratic deficit.
In Saudi terms, King Abdullah was a reformer, making princes pay their phone bills and giving women their first ever seats in the high-level consultative council.
The ban came hours before a high-level national security council meeting that will, for the first time since the coup attempt, bring together the president, top cabinet and military officials in Ankara to discuss policies in response to Friday's coup attempt.
"We expect the UN to step in and protect the refugees inside Syria, and if possible, to shelter them in camps there," Davutoglu told reporters before leaving for New York to attend Thursday's high-level UN security council meeting on Syria.
The AU has set up the peace and security council, high-level panels for conflict resolution, and the African standby force for supporting peace operations.
To mark this 15th anniversary, in October the UN convened a high-level review at the security council in New York to assess its progress at local, national and global levels.
"Tempers flared during an August 12 higher policy council meeting when high-level security service officials openly questioned the government's continuation of indirect negotiations with Israel and its 'generosity' with Lebanon".
The panel asked the council to blacklist "high-level decision-makers responsible for the actions and policies that threaten the peace, security and stability of the country".
