In the provinces there should be no houses which do not have at least four brothers.

The bursar of the convent, under the direction of the prior, is the administrator of temporal goods; he exercises his office in accordance with the norms laid down for administration.

1. A conventual lector is elected for three years by the conventual chapter and is confirmed by the prior provincial.
2. It is the duty of a conventual lector, in accordance with the directives of the provincial chapter:
   1. to encourage the study of questions connected with the programme of apostolic work on which the conventual chapter has decided (n. 307);
      2. to ensure that in his convent the decisions made by the commission on the intellectual life of the province and confirmed by the prior provincial are carried out;
   2. 3. to organise discussion of contemporary questions;
   3. 4. to help the prior in fostering the ongoing formation of the community.

When a prior leaves office, the subprior is designated in capite, and from then until a new prior is present in the convent, the subprior by virtue of his office has the same authority and jurisdiction as a prior.

The subprior should have the qualifications required in n. 443, § I and II.

The subprior acts in the place of the prior and assists him in the administration of the convent.

It is for the council:

1. to consent to the appointment or removal of the syndic;
2. to vote, as required in nn. 192, 197, 202, 206, and 207, for the admission of brothers to profession;
3. to dismiss a postulant or a novice when the matter is urgent;
4. to grant to those about to sit for an examination or to receive orders the approval concerning their behaviour required by our legislation (cf. n. 245 et 251 § III);
5. to give approval for the reception of orders (cf. n. 246; CIC 1029 et 1051 §1);
6. 5. to approve the report of the syndic and of other administrators and to decide all other matters concerning economic administration, in accordance with nn. 563, § I, 568;
7. 6. to decide on all matters left to the examination and decision of the council by a provincial chapter.

The members of the council are:

1. the subprior;
2. at least two brothers with voting rights, but never more han eight, are elected for three years by the conventual chapter and are approved by the prior provincial. The number of those to be elected shall be decided by the chapter itself;
3. furthermore, in convents of formation, the master of novices, master of students, and master of cooperator brothers, as well as the moderator of the centre for institutional studies.

The conventual council is a gathering of brothers, at which the prior presides. He is obliged to seek the council’s consent or advice in accordance with our laws.

It is for the chapter:

1. to elect the prior and a socius or socii of the prior to attend the provincial chapter, without prejudice to n. 490;
2. to consent to the appointment or removal of a subprior as proposed by the prior;
3. to elect the members of the conventual council in accordance with n. 315, 2:
4. to vote, in accordance with nn. 192, 197, 202, 206, and 207, on the admission of brothers to profession;
5. to send to provincial and general chapters petitions or questions to be dealt with;
6. to elect a conventual lector.