It was composed of a president and sixteen judges, half of whom were taken from the army, and half from the class of scholars.

To secure impartiality, the judges held their office for life.

A majority of suffrages decided a question and in case of a tie, the president gave a casting vote.

The emperor reserved the right of deciding certain questions himself.

This court gradually became one of the most important and salutary institutions of the German empire.
By the 7th of August these important measures were arranged.