To give an authentic interpretation of our laws pertains to a general chapter. However, when it concerns the interpretation of constitutions, this does not acquire the force of a constitution unless it has been approved by three successive general chapters.

1. The legitimate customs of the Order or of a province retain the force of law until they are revoked by a general or a provincial chapter.
2. Customs contrary to the constitutions and ordinations found in this book, are rejected.

The ordinations of a general chapter and of the Master of the Order retain their binding force until they have been revoked by a similar authority.

1. A general chapter has the power to declare that a specific law of ours does not bind because of special circumstances of time and place or other factors indicated in the declaration itself. In the interval from one chapter to another the Master of the Order, after consulting his council, has the same power.
2. If such a declaration is still shown to be opportune, it shall be renewed in each general chapter.

Our legislation and the ordinations of superiors do not bind the brethren under sin but to a penalty only, unless by reason of a formal precept or because of contempt.

Each convent is also ruled by the ordinations of its superior and of others who in various ways can take his place.

1. The statute of a province is the collection of ordinations on the life and government of convents and of the province, especially concerning those matters which, according to our legislation, are to be determined by each province.
2. 
     1. Only a provincial chapter is competent to make ordinations to be inserted in the statute of the province, and to change them or abrogate them;
     2. the statute of a province or changes in it, just as all other ordinations of a provincial chapter, must be approved by the Master of the Order.
3. Changes to be inserted in the statute of the province which affect the manner of holding a provincial chapter begin to have force only with the following chapter.

Each province is also governed:

1. by the statute of the province;
2. by the ordinations of a provincial chapter;
3. by the ordinations of the prior provincial as well as ofothers who, for whatever reason, are in charge of a province.

Inchoations which are made in general chapters do not begin to have force until they have been approved and confirmed by two other chapters and have become constitutions, unless the inchoation was made by way of an ordination.
Inchoations with ordinations which are contrary to constitutions may not be made except rarely and for an urgent reason, which must always be stated expressly by a chapter.

1. A particular statute is considered to be a constitution only when it has been accepted by three successive general chapters. The process for this is inchoation in the first chapter, approbation in the second, and confirmation in the third. This process must also be observed for the abrogation or substantial changing of constitutions.
2. One most general chapter is equivalent to three general chapters.