The World Security Council is an international organization based around ideals of maintaining global security and fostering world peace. They are positioned above S.H.I.E.L.D. acting as superiors.
When Nick Fury and his men searched for Steve Rogers on Greenland, the Council ordered them to shut down the operation and return to New York City. Twelve hours later, the Council ordered Fury to stop wasting time on "wasteful programs" and focus on reigniting the Tesseract, naming that operation "Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S.". Despite the direct order, Fury decided to continuewith his usual activities. A week later, Fury gave them his report about how S.H.I.E.L.D. saved Tony Stark's life, made an alliance with Thor, and captured the Destroyer. Finally satisfied with Fury's work, the Council decided to increase the funding for the agency, expand jurisdictions for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents, and augment Fury's strategic authority.
The World Security Council were discussing and arguing with Nick Fury about the re-activation of the Avengers Initiative. They even tried to include Emil Blonsky, also known as the Abomination, but Fury sent Phil Coulson and Jasper Sitwell to stop them. They sent in Tony Stark, a hero also known as Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s consultant, to talk to General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross about the situation and stop him from handing over Blonsky, and he successfully completed his task.
During the Chitauri invasion of New York City, the Council ordered the deployment of a nuclear missile to the area as a last resort to stop the invading force. This "stupid-ass" plan was delayed when Director Nick Fury ignored it, then thwarted between the actions of Fury disabling one fighter jet with a nuclear payload, and Iron Man intercepting the missile of another.
After the crisis had been averted, the Council questioned whether or not Fury had fully thought out the consequences of bringing the Avengers together. However, Fury saw it as a statement, a "promise", to even other worlds, that the Earth had her defenders and was not to be trifled with.
