They were instituted by the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858, but each has had its constitution and organisation considerably altered by subsequent statutes.
Under the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966, new ordinances and resolutions are communicated in draft form to the general council, whose opinion thereon is taken into consideration.
St Andrews was slowly recovering from the lean times of the 18th century but still had problems with dilapidated buildings.
In addition, such a body would, "be a means for inducing those alumni who become prosperous and influential, to promote the interests of institutions with which they had thus all along continued to be connected."
Others, loosely connected with Lorimer's group, saw the possibility of securing a parliamentary vote for graduates and this indeed came to pass.
In 1857 Lorimer was invited to draft what was to become the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858, which established the court, senate and general council structure.
The royal commission of 1876 appointed to investigate the results of the act of 1858 found that "the attendance at the meetings of Council is relatively very small," and the same comment is applicable today.