Constitution

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 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 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.

1. When a Province has outside of its territory in another nation or region at least fifteen vocals and one convent properly so called, at least two houses of which one is a convent properly called, and at least fifteen vocals, the Provincial Chapter can combine them into a provincial vicariate, so that the apostolic activities and regular life of the brethren there may the better be able to be coordinated.
2. The provincial vicariate is regulated by a statute drawn up by the Provincial Chapter and approved by the Master of the Order.

1. In each province there shall be a bursar who shall have charge of the goods of the province in accordance with the norms established for administration.
2. The brother who will have fulfilled this office may be proposed immediately for a second term, but not a third, unless with the consent of the Master of the Order.

1. In each province there shall be a socius of the prior provincial who shall assist him in governing the province.
2. The socius shall be a priest who is at least thirty years old.
3. He shall be appointed by the prior provincial with the consent of the diffinitory of the provincial chapter.

1. It is the duty of the provincial council to assist the provincial to perform his duties, especially with regard to decisions which had been made by the provincial chapter and which with the passage of time appear to be timely or necessary for promoting the apostolate and regular life.
2. In the provincial council more important matters shall be decided by a decisive vote, unless it is determined otherwise in our legislation.
3. If at any time the votes are tied, the president has the casting vote (cf. appendicem n. 14-bis).

Provided they are assigned to the province or are members of the province assigned to convents under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order but are not members of the general council, the following are members of the provincial council:

1. the ex-prior provincial who has ceased from office;
2. the regent of studies;
3. the socius of the prior provincial;
4. the diffinitors of the last provincial chapter, until the following chapter;
5. councillors elected by the provincial chapter (see n. 519, § II) until the following chapter.

The president and the diffinitors have full ordinary power, according to law, over the entire province, its convents and brothers, until the end of the chapter, without prejudice to n. 361, § II.

The chapter shall be held regularly every four years or when a prior provincial is to be elected and at a time determined by provincial custom.