Its supplementary status to the Ordre national du Mérite was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963.

Its origin is attributed to the Order of Saint Michael (established 1 August 1469), as acknowledged by French government sources.

The Order has three grades: The médaille (medallion) of the Order is an eight-pointed, green-enameled asterisk, in gilt for Commanders and Officers and in silver for Knights; the obverse central disc has the letters "A" and "L" on a white-enameled background, surrounded by a golden ring emblazoned with the phrase République Française.

However, in the statutes, there is a clause saying "Les Officiers et les Commandeurs de la Légion d'honneur peuvent être directement promus à un grade équivalent dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres".

(Translation: "The officers and commanders of the Legion of Honour can be promoted directly to an equivalent grade in the Order of Arts and Letters".)