The president alone corresponded with the government, received official letters, signed diplomas, payment orders, deliberations, decrees, appointments, and dispatches.
Within the council: - A chancellor signed diplomas, deliberations, decrees, and appointments and handled reports on faculties (excluding Catholic theology) and specialized schools.
- Other councilors were responsible for royal and communal colleges, served as rector of the University of Paris, or oversaw Catholic theology faculties and religious institutions.
Members were appointed by the king from three candidates proposed by the president, on the council's advice, selected from individuals deemed most distinguished in public instruction.
From June 1, 1822, the council was presided over by the grand master of the university (a position recreated in 1822), who also became minister-secretary of state for public instruction from August 26, 1824.