The president changed week by week, being chosen in turn from each province according to their order of precedence.

Holland had nominally no more weight than the others; its practical influence, however, was great in proportion to the burden of taxation that it bore and was increased by the fact that the sessions, which after 1593 were permanent, were held at the Hague in the same building with the Estates of Holland, and that the Council-Pensionary of Holland was the spokesman of the province in the States-General.

The States-General had control of the foreign affairs of the Union.

To them belonged the supreme control of military and naval matters.

The Captain-General and Admiral-General of the Union were appointed by them; and a deputation of the States-General accompanied the army into the field and the commanders were bound to consult it.
They exercised a strong supervision of finance, and sovereign authority over the entire administration of the "Generality" lands.