World Organization of Scout Movement (WOSM) is non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations. WOSM was established in 1920 and now has 28 million members. The mission of WOSM is to contribute to the education of young people through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Scout Law, to help building a better world where people are self-realized as individuals and play a constructive role in society. 

World Scout Conference (WSC) is the governing body, World Scout Committee is the chief legislative body and World Scout Bureau (WSB, formerly the International Bureau) is the executive body that carries out the instructions of World Scout Conference and World Scout Committee.Also WOSM is split into 6 regions and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland. World Scout Conference (WSC) is the governing body which meets once every three years, preceeded by World Scout Youth Forum (WSYF). 

World Scout Conference is the general assembly of scouting and is composed of not more than six delegates from each of member scout associations. If there are more than one association in the country, they form a federation for coordination and world representation. The basis for recognition and membership in World Scout Conference includes adherence to the aims and principles of WOSM, and independence from political involvement on the part of each member association. Every member-associations has six decisive voices. 

The Conference meets every three years and is hosted by a member association. 

World Scout Committee is chief legislative body of World Scout Conference and is composed of elected volunteers. World Scout Committee represents World Scout Conference between the meetings of the full conference. It is responsible for the implementation of the resolutions of the WSC and for acting on its behalf between its meetings. 

The Committee meets twice a year, usually in Geneva. Its Steering Committee, consisting of the Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen and the Secretary General, meet when it is necessary. The Committee consists of 14 members. Twelve, each from a different country, are elected for six-year terms by World Scout Conference. The members, elected without regard to their nationality, do not represent their country but the interests of the Movement as a whole. The Secretary General and the Treasurer of WOSM are ex-officio members of the Committee. 

Chairmen of Regional Scout Committees participate in World Scout Committee meetings in a consultative capacity.  Nowadays the head of the World Scout Committee is William Cronk, USA. 

World Scout Bureau (WSB, formerly the International Bureau) is executive body that carries out the instructions of WSC and World Scout Committee. WSB is administered by the Secretary General, who is supported by a small staff of technical personnel. The bureau staff helps associations improve and broaden their scouting by training professionals and volunteers, establishing financial policies and money-raising techniques, improving community facilities and procedures, and assisting in marshaling the national resources of each country behind scouting. The General Secretary of World Scout Bureau today is Luc Panissod. 

The staff also helps to arrange global events such as World Scout Jamborees, encourages regional events, and acts as a liaison between the scout movement and other international organizations. WSB, being non-governmental organization, represents scout movement in UN. World Scout Bureau has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and offices in six regional divisions: Europe Region, Arab Region, Africa Region, Asia-Pacific Region, Interamerican Region, Eurasia Region. 

The structure of governing bodies on the regional level is: Regional Scout Conference, Regional Scout Committee, Regional Scout Bureau that is directed by WSB in Geneva, and has its aim to develop scouting in every concrete region.