Which terms are generally interchangeable with Council of Governments?

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Council of Governments refers to a regional planning organization that coordinates across multiple jurisdictions to address shared planning needs such as transportation, land use, and growth management. Different states use different names for this same type of entity, so the terms regional planning commissions, regional commissions, and planning districts are commonly used interchangeably with a Council of Governments. These labels describe the same kind of multi-jurisdictional planning body, just with varying local naming conventions. In contrast, city councils and town boards are the governing bodies of individual municipalities, not regional coordinators; and transit authorities, water districts, or school boards are service-oriented entities or special districts focused on specific functions rather than regional planning collaboration.