The persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something(noun)
WordNet. Princeton University. 2010.
Use "governing body" in a sentence
"It was therefore decided to send home James, who could most easily be spared, and whose testimony as a member of the governing body during the absence of the Admiral on his voyage to Cuba might be relied upon to counteract the jealous accusations of Margarite and Buil."
"Cricket Council vice-president Sharad Pawar said here on Saturday that the world governing body was still in the process of taking a final decision on"
"The addition of younger persons to this council by co-optation is an improvement on the governing body of the Republic."