One of its functions was to determine that new legislation was not contrary to the rights and liberties established in the Joyous Entry.

The Belgian Federal Parliament now sits in the building that was designed in the late 18th century by Gilles-Barnabé Guimard as the Palace of the Council of Brabant.

On 1 January 1787, Emperor Joseph II decreed the abolition of the Council of Brabant, which had resisted his reforming measures as conflicting with the established liberties of the duchy, and ordered that it be replaced with a number of tribunals to be newly instituted.

On 20 April the Council nullified this decree as contrary to the liberties of the duchy and ordered its members to give no heed to it.

At the end of May 1787 the government in Brussels postponed the implementation of judicial innovations, and in September abolished the decree.