The 31 professional clubs unanimously supported the main body of proposals for sweeping changes from the game's strategic review commission.
Among the recommendations to get the green light at the RFL Council meeting at Headingley were that
Super League will remain with 12 clubs at least until 2003.
But the end-of-season play-offs will be extended to incorporate the top six teams instead of five.
The Association of Premiership Clubs will operate a 19-team league, starting in December, but will be split into two divisions for 2003 and be re-titled National Leagues One and Two.
Both National League One and Two will have a six-team play-off culminating in a Grand Final, with the winners earning promotion as long as they meet minimum standards.
Amateur teams will form a 10-strong National League Three in 2002 to be run concurrently with Super League.
The pioneering summer conference will form National League Four from 2003.
Non-Super League clubs will play a National League Cup competition in mid-season, based on a geographical basis up to the knockout stages.
Club representatives, who re-affirmed their support for a transparent system of promotion and relegation, had earlier rejected the idea of reducing Super League to 10 teams.
But they agreed to make £500,000 available from central funds to directly help clubs outside the top flight whose income from the Sky television deal has come to an end.
In other decisions made, amateur clubs drawn first out of the hat against professional clubs in the Challenge Cup will be allowed to play their ties at home and the age group for the Academy competition is to be increased from under-18 to under-19 with the under-21 competition scrapped.
The council awarded associate League membership to Keighley, who were re-formed after the old club went into liquidation at the end of last season, and Gateshead Thunder were made full members.