The Council consists of 19 ex officio members (the President, the Vice Presidents, and the directors of the research institutes ) and 36 elected members at the tenure of three years. The Council's functions are as follows:
To make and review research policies.
To evaluate proposals concerning changes to the institutes and research projects.
To promote academic cooperation in the Republic of China and with other countries.
To make plans for academic development when requested by the government.
To elect a shortlist of three candidates for the presidency of Academia Sinica when the presidency id vacated. Of them one will be appointed by the President of the Republic of China to head the academy.
The formulation of rules as authorized by the by-laws of Academia Sinica.
Division
Elected members
ex offico members
Total
Mathematics and Physical Sciences
12
5
17
Life Sciences
12
5
17
Humanities and Social Sciences
12
8
20
Total
36
18
54
Members of the 17th Council
DIVISION OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Elected Members
Chao-Shuian Liu
Jin Wu
Paul Ching-Wu Chu
Tien-Tzou Tsong
Theo-dore Yaotsu Wu
Tzu-Yow Yang
Chao-Han Liu
Chun-Yen Chang
Jenn-Tai Hwang
Leroy L. Chang
Chung-Laung Liu
Shie-Ming Peng
ex officio Members
Yuan T. Lee
Tai-Ping Liu
Typhoon Lee
Der-Tsai Lee
Chen-Hsin Chen
DIVISION OF LIFE SCIENCES
Elected Members
Shu Chien
Jacqueline J.K. Whang Peng
Cheng-Wen Wu
Tung-Bin Lo
Ding-Shinn Chen
Wei-Jao Chen
Ray Wu
I-Chui Liao
Chien Ho
Tsong-Teh Kuo
Chang-Hung Chou
Juei-Low Sung
ex officio Members
Sunney I. Chan
Jei-Fu Shaw
Kwang-Tsao Shao
Andrew H.-J. Wang
Che-Kun James Shen
DIVISION OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Elected Members
Ying-Shih Yu
Cho-Yun Hsu
Yih-Yuan Li
Chao-Cheng Mai
Chen Sun
Fu Hu
George C. Tiao
Tzong-Shian Yu
Pang-Hsin Ting
Ovid J.L. Tzeng
Ambrose Yeo-Chi King
Herbert Han-Pao Ma
ex officio Members
Cyrus C. Y. Chu
Kuan-Chung Huang
Ying-Kuei Huang
Fang-Shang Lu
Sheng-Cheng Hu
Cheng-Yi Lin
Ki-Che Angela Leung
Ying-Hwa Chang
Members' tenure of office is three years (May 1999 - April 2002).