The Supreme Council should not be confused with the High Council. The latter is the Workshop which brings together all the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, 33° degree of the Rite, while the former is the governing body of the Jurisdiction, management and protection of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

Its mission, creation and composition are set out in the Grand Constitutions of Berlin (1786), as well as in the Statutes and General Regulations of the S.C.N.D.F.

It comprises at least nine and at most thirty-three members, all Sovereign Grand Inspectors General.

It decides on the creation of the Workshops of the Jurisdiction, on the acceptance and promotion of the Brothers, as well as on their assignment to a Workshop.

As the custodian of the Rite, he ensures its perfect transmission and the perfect regularity of the Workshops.

The Supreme Council is headed by a Grand Commander, head of the Jurisdiction and elected for three years. He is also the President of the civil association Supreme National Council of France of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

He is assisted by a Lieutenant Grand Commander, who alone is entitled to deputise for him if necessary.

The Grand Commander is assisted by ten other Officers and by several active members without office.

As stated in the Grand Constitutions of Berlin (1786), the mission of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General is to instruct and enlighten their Brothers; to cause Charity, Union and Brotherly Love to reign among them; to maintain regularity in the work of each Degree and to see that it is observed by all Members; to ensure that the Dogmas, Doctrines, Institutes, Constitutions, Statutes and Regulations of the Order, especially those of High Masonry, are respected and, on all occasions, respected and defended; and finally, to endeavour, in all places, to do works of Peace and Mercy.

"Sous la Juridiction du Suprême Conseil National De France des Souverains Grands Inspecteurs Généraux du 33e et dernier degré du Rite Écossais Ancien et Accepté" : comme le veut la tradition, c'est sous ces auspices et par cette invocation que s'ouvrent les Travaux de tous les Ateliers et tous les Frères de la Juridiction.

C'est du Suprême Conseil qu'émane, dans les hauts-grades, dont il est le conservateur et le protecteur, toute autorité, conformément aux Grandes Constitutions de 1786 : celle de constituer les Ateliers, d'en nommer les responsables, de décider du parcours maçonnique des Frères, de leur nomination comme de leurs promotion.

Cette réalité s'inscrit, non dans la simple reproduction d'un schéma historique daté, mais dans une volonté prospective, celle d'instaurer le règne pacificateur, harmonieux et unificateur du Saint Empire, c'est-à-dire, non pas un projet politique (la Maçonnerie s'interdit toute ingérence en ce domaine), mais le but même que le Rite se fixe : atteindre l’union, le bonheur, le progrès et le bien-être de la famille humaine en général et de chaque homme individuellement.