Complex sentence: A Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereof, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state.
Split into simpler sentences: A Council of State is the name of a governmental body in a country or subdivision thereof, with a function that varies by jurisdiction. It may be the formal name for the cabinet or refer to to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state.