The vicar of the Order is the one who, when the Master ceases to hold office while no chapter is in session, takes the place of the Master of the Order until a Master has been elected.

1. A vicar over the whole Order has the same power as the Master himself unless otherwise provided for in law or in his letter of appointment. Other vicars have whatever authority the Master himself shall determine.
2. All continue in office until their mandate is revoked by the Master of the Order.
3. The office of vicar over the whole Order expires when the Master of the Order ceases to hold office; the office of other vicars, however, continues until determined otherwise by the new Master.

The Master of the Order has power to appoint vicars to assist him, either over the whole Order or over one or more regions, one or more provinces, or one or more convents.

1. For a grave reason the Master of the Order may appoint and remove priors provincial, conventual priors, and any other officials, as well as prioresses of monasteries subject to the Order, and restrict their functions and authority; he may also do in the Order whatever he and the diffinitors of a general chapter may do according to our laws.
2. During his term of office, the Master of the Order is obliged to visitate the whole Order, either personally, or by means of his socii or others, at least twice.
3. The Master of the Order cannot surrender the rights of his office to the prejudice of his successors.

He obtains his office by canonical election and remains in it for nine ten years. The time is computed from one elective chapter to the next elective chapter, disregarding whatever
few months—not, however, more than six months—which fall short of or exceed nine ten years.

The Master of the Order, since he is the successor of St Dominic and the source of the Order’s unity, is the proper and immediate prelate of all the brothers, convents, and provinces, in virtue of the profession of obedience made to him by every member.

1. When a Province has outside of its territory in another nation or region at least fifteen vocals and one convent properly so called, at least two houses of which one is a convent properly called, and at least fifteen vocals, the provincial chapter may combine them into a provincial vicariate, so that the apostolic activities and regular life of the brethren there can be better coordinated.
2. The provincial vicariate is regulated by a statute drawn up by the provincial chapter and approved by the Master of the Order.

1. In each province there shall be a bursar who shall have charge of the goods of the province in accordance with the norms established for administration.
2. The brother who will have fulfilled this office may be proposed immediately for a second term, but not a third, unless with the consent of the Master of the Order.

1. In each province there shall be a socius of the prior provincial who shall assist him in governing the province.
2. The socius shall be a priest who is at least thirty years old.
3. He shall be appointed by the prior provincial with the consent of the diffinitory of the provincial chapter.

1. It is the duty of the provincial council to assist the provincial to perform his duties, especially with regard to decisions which had been made by the provincial chapter and which with the passage of time appear to be timely or necessary for promoting the apostolate and regular life.
2. In the provincial council more important matters shall be decided by a decisive vote, unless it is determined otherwise in our legislation.
3. If at any time the votes are tied, the president has the casting vote (cf. appendicem n. 14-bis).