Constitution

A most general chapter (see n. 276, § II) is composed of the Master of the Order, ex-Masters of the Order, priors provincial, and two diffinitors from each province, elected by a provincial chapter.

The Master of the Order may not change the acts and decrees of a chapter but he, and indeed he alone, may dispense from them and declare their meaning.

1. It is strictly forbidden for priors provincial by their decisions to generate prejudice against diffinitors and it is likewise strictly forbidden for diffinitors by their decisions to generate prejudice against priors provincial. And if they attempt to do so, it shall be null and void.
2. The secrecy of the chapter must be observed by all the participants concerning those matters which could cause harm or prejudice to the Order or to the brothers. The president, however, may determine if anything else must be kept secret.

This is the sequence of chapters: the elective chapter, the chapter of diffinitors, the chapter of priors provincial, and so on. A new series of chapters in the aforesaid order begins with the elective chapter even if the election of a Master has to be held before the completion of the nine-year ten-year period.

1. A general chapter shall be held:
   1. every three years; four years after an elective chapter,
   2. three years after a chapter of diffinitors or a chapter of priors provincial;
   3. 2. whenever the office of Master of the Order falls vacant.
2. A chapter may, if it judges it opportune, call the next chapter within a shorter period of time.

1. Some of the socii of the Master of the Order designated by him are to be present, and so too is the bursar of the Order; they have the right to speak without, however, having a vote.
2. A delegate from each convent permanently under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order, as well as experts designated by the Master may be summoned and heard without, however, having a vote.

For the election of delegates attending a general chapter of diffinitors or priors provincial, all the brothers of the convents under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order are to be grouped together by the general council to constitute elective colleges (according to whether one or two delegates for each chapter have to be elected). Each of these colleges should have at least twenty-five voters. The general council shall lay down how this election is to be conducted.

Each province which has at least twenty-five brothers assigned in convents of the vicariates or convents of the province outside the boundaries of the province has the right to send one delegate elected from and by those brothers according to the statute of the province to a general chapter either of diffinitors or priors provincial. An arrangement shall be made by the Master of the Order with his council so that half of the provinces shall be represented in one chapter and the other half in the next.

The following are assembled and have votes in a general chapter of priors provincial:

1. the Master of the Order;
2. ex-Masters of the Order;
3. each prior provincial;
4. each vice-provincial;
5. delegates of the provincial vicariates chosen from regional priors and vicars provincial in accordance with n. 409-bis;
6. one delegate from among the brothers assigned under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order if the total is less than one hundred, two if the total is one hundred or more, elected in accordance with n. 409-ter.

The following are assembled and have votes in a general chapter of diffinitors:

1. the Master of the Order;
2. ex-Masters of the Order;
3. diffinitors elected by each province;
4. delegates elected by each vice-province;
5. delegates of other provincial vicariates, chosen in accordance with n. 409-bis, but excluding regional priors and vicars provincial;
6. one delegate from among the brothers assigned to convents under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order if the total is less than one hundred, two if the total is one hundred or more, elected in accordance with n. 409-ter.