North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 143B. Executive Organization Act of 1973 § 143B-3. Definitions

(1) Agency: whenever the term “agency” is used it shall mean and include, as the context may require, an existing department, institution, commission, committee, board, division, bureau, officer or official.

(2) Board: a collective body which assists the head of a principal department or his designee in the development of major programs including the tender of advice on departmental priorities.

(3) Commission: a collective body which adopts rules and regulations in a quasi-legislative manner and which acts in a quasi-judicial capacity in rendering findings or decisions involving differing interests.

(4) Committee: a collective body which either advises the head of a principal department or his designee or advises a commission in detailed technical areas.

(5) Council: a collective body which advises the head of a principal department or his designee as representative of citizen advice in specific areas of interests.

(6) Division: the principal subunit of a principal State department.

(7) Head of department: head of one of the principal State departments.

(8) Higher education: State senior institutions of higher learning.

(9) Principal State department: one of the departments created by the General Assembly in compliance with Article III, Sec. 11, of the Constitution of North Carolina.