During the rule of Charles V, the States of Zeeland was made up of prelates from the province (e.g. the abbot of the Middelburg Abbey), the main nobles of Zeeland (the Ridderschap) and representatives of the province's six largest cities (known as pensionaries).

These cities were Middelburg, Zierikzee, Goes, Reimerswaal and Tholen (with Vlissingen and Veere added after the Dutch Revolt).

Decisions were taken by majority vote and the body and province were represented at the States General of the Netherlands by the Grand Pensionary of Zeeland, with this regional states (like the others) also nominating Zeeland's delegates to the States-General.

From 1578, these, the Zeeuwse Admiraliteitscollege and other regional representatives oversaw the Admiralty of Zeeland.

The 1850 Provinces Act abolished the estate-based representation, with the council's 42 members henceforth directly elected by the enfranchised segment of the population across multi-member electoral districts.