With the IAAF President at its head, the IAAF Council consists of 27 elected members and the General Secretary, including one President, four Vice Presidents, one Treasurer, one representative from the Area groups (6) and 15 individual members. The IAAF General Secretary sits on the Council as an ex-officio member.

Each member is elected by the Congress for a period of four years. The Council administers the affairs of the IAAF, appoints the General Secretary and all Delegates to IAAF competitions, including the World Athletic Series. It has the power to provisionally elect or suspend a Member Federation, and to take urgent decisions. It submits a report and a budget to Congress every two years. It promotes a Development Programme for the benefit of Member Federations who require assistance.