Three sorts of general chapter are recognized in the Order: the elective chapter, the chapter of diffinitors, and the chapter of priors provincial.

A general chapter, which has the highest authority in the Order, is a gathering of the brothers representing the provinces of the Order to discuss and decide those matters which pertain to the good of the whole Order and, if the need should arise, to elect the Master of the Order.

1. It is for the elected vicar of the Order to convene the vocals for the election of the future Master, to prepare the general chapter (see n. 415) and to preside at the election of the Master.
2. He may not remove from office the socii of the previous Master, priors provincial or conventual priors, and he may not appoint a new socius or change anything in the state of the Order.

On the death of the Master or his removal from office, the first socius according to the order of profession has, as of right the power which belongs to the vicar of the Order. However, he must convene the general council so that from among the socii a vicar of the Order may be elected.

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.