Legislation in LCO can be divided into Constitutions and Ordinations, and can be in force, provisionally in force, or in abeyance. Rather than using symbols and having a second section of statues in abeyance, as does the printed LCO, each statute has an information link to note from where it derives its authority and a link to a Revision History of the statute. A first approval is called "Accepted", then they are "Seconded" and ultimately "Definitive."
In brief:
LCO 285 governs how Ordinations are changed. Additions take immediate but provisional effect. They become permanent after the third successive General Chapter they are provisionally in effect. If not, the additions are reverted. (Note: before 2010 they became permanent after the sixth General Chapter they were in effect). Abrogations to part or all of an Ordination are provisionally in effect immediately and become permanent if they are confirmed in the following chapter. If the changes are ultimately rejected, the changed version is marked "Abandoned" (Latin: derelictus) and the older version is reinstated.
LCO 276 governs how Constitutions are changed:
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.
Changes to constitutions are not in effect until after the third General Chapter, unless they are changed "with an ordination".
There are also "Technical" changes which do not affect the meaning of a statute, and so are immediately in effect and permanent. However, there can be odd combinations of provisional and technical changes, where the provisional parts do not ultimately remain, though the technical changes do.
In more detail:
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 (noted with the symbol “✪” in the printed version).
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 (noted with the symbols “✪” and “✪✪” respectively in the printed version).
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 (noted with the symbol “★” in the printed version).
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 (noted with the symbols “★” and “★★” respectively in the printed version).
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. (Note: Before 2010 it took six successive general chapters, see below.)
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 an annotation giving the reference to the relevant ACG (and the symbol “◆” in the printed version); if the provision insertion is renewed by a second chapter, this is also noted (not strictly necessary for a new text, but recent chapters have adopted the praxis to avoid ambiguity) (the symbol “◆◆” is used in the printed version).
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.