Here is a primer on how Constitutions and Ordinations get changed.
Legislation in LCO can be divided into:
Constitutions (shown in roman type in LCO), that is, the fundamental laws of the Order, or evangelical and theological principles, as well as determinations concerning the nature, purpose, form of life and governance of the Order. Constitutions may be:
In force, and shown in the main part of LCO:
Constitution in full force, i.e. which has been approved by three successive General Chapters by way of inchoation, approbation and confirmation (cf. LCO 276). It is shown in LCO without any annotation, and remains in force until abrogated by three successive General Chapters.
Constitution inchoated with an ordination, i.e. which has been inchoated by one General Chapter which also made an ordination that it should enter into force provisionally but immediately (cf. LCO 277). A reference is made to the relevant ACG of inchoation with the symbol “✪”.
Constitution approved with an ordination, i.e. which has been inchoated by one General Chapter and approved by the following Chapter, which also made an ordination that it should enter into force provisionally. A reference is made to the relevant ACG of inchoation and approbation with the symbols “✪” and “✪✪” respectively.
Not in force, and shown in the second part of LCO:
Inchoated constitution, i.e. a new text of a constitution inchoated by one General Chapter. A reference is made to the ACG of inchoation with the symbol “★”.
Approved constitution, i.e. a new text of a constitution inchoated by one General Chapter and approved by the immediately following Chapter. A reference is made to the ACGs of inchoation and approbation with the symbols “★” and “★★” respectively.
Constitution in abeyance, i.e. which has been approved by three successive General Chapters, but whose abrogation has been inchoated and/or approved with an ordination giving it provisional but immediate effect (cf. LCO 277). A reference is made to the ACGs inchoating (“✪”) or approving (“✪✪”) the abrogation of the existing text.
Notes:
Unlike Ordinations, Constitutions get added to and subtracted from by the same process however they are changing (being altered, added to, or abrogated). It takes three successive general chapters to affirm the changes, unless they are accompanied by an ordination.
To show a constitution in transition
Ordinations (shown in in italic in LCO), that is, norms given in order to apply or carry out the constitutions. Ordinations may be:
In force:
Ordination inserted definitively into LCO, either because it remains from the original 1968 edition of LCO, or because it has been definitively inserted in accordance with LCO 285 § I. The text is shown in the main part of LCO without any annotation, and remains in force until abrogated by a General Chapter, subject to confirmation by the following Chapter (cf. LCO 285 § II).
Ordination inserted provisionally into LCO, i.e. made by a General Chapter with the intention it should be part of LCO. It enters into force straight away, but the third (until 2010, the sixth) General Chapter would need to insert it into LCO definitively in accordance with LCO 285 § I; otherwise it is considered abrogated. The provisionally inserted ordination is included in the main part of LCO with the symbol “◆” and an annotation giving the reference to the relevant ACG; if the provision insertion is renewed by a second chapter (not strictly necessary for a new text, but recent chapters have adopted the praxis to avoid ambiguity) the symbol “◆◆” is used.
Ordination in Acta, i.e. made by a General Chapter, but not for insertion into LCO, or at least not initially. For that reason it isn’t reproduced in LCO… but it might still be useful to show them in an online resource, as it remains legislation in force for the whole of the Order. An ordination which remains in force through two (until 2010, five) General Chapters may be inserted definitively into LCO by the third (until 2010, the sixth) Chapter in accordance with LCO 285 § I. The text inserted typically needs some rephrasing, but retains the substance of the ordination.
Not in force:
Ordination in abeyance, i.e. which was inserted definitively into LCO, but has been abrogated by a General Chapter. Although the abrogation has effect straight away, it needs to be explicitly confirmed by the following General Chapter until it becomes definitive. If the following general chapter does not explicitly reaffirm the abrogation, it is restored and returns to force. In the meantime, the text is printed in the second part of LCO with a reference to the relevant ACG and the symbol “◆”.