The forces of the republic that were distributed in the several provinces received their pay from the provinces, but those maintained by the Council, as troops of the State, were paid by monies received from the Generality lands, _i.e._ lands such as the conquered portions of Brabant and Flanders, governed by the States-General, but without representation in that body.

The Council of State, though its political powers were curtailed and absorbed by the States-General, continued to exercise, as a court of justice, appellate jurisdiction in military and financial questions.
The States-General consisted of representatives of the Estates of the seven sovereign provinces of Gelderland, Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Friesland, Overyssel, and Groningen (_Stad en Landeri_) in the order of precedence given above.

Gelderland, having been a duchy, ranked before those that had formerly been counties or lordships.

The provinces sent deputations varying in number; Holland and Gelderland generally six, the others less.

Each province had but a single vote.