The Supreme Council is composed of Supreme Officers, the state and territorial deputies, the last living past state deputy of each jurisdiction, and elected representatives from each state. The major duties of each correspond to the major duties of their counterparts in any corporation. A 25-member board of directors is charged with overseeing the fraternal and insurance operations of the Order between meetings of the Supreme Council. State council officers follow the same pattern. The state deputy and his team of officers are elected by delegates at the annual state conventions held each spring.
Subordinate councils elect their own leaders.
Currently, there are nearly 11,000 local Knights of Columbus councils. While most are based in a given Catholic parish, others draw their members from several Catholic parishes. Still others are based on college and university campuses and are comprised of Catholic students, faculty and staff. Each reflects the diversity of the Church. This representative system of government clearly indicates the long-range intentions of Father McGivney and his founding Knights.