Constitution

Each province which has at least ten twenty brothers assigned in vicariates or houses of the province outside the boundaries of the province has the right to send to a general chapter of diffinitors or priors provincial one delegate elected from and by those brothers according to the statute of the province (see Appendix 17). The latter selection shall be made in such a way by the Master of the Order with his council 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. half of those who assist the Master of the Order.

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 and general vicariate;
5. delegates of other vicariates, chosen in accordance with n. 409-bis, but excluding regional priors and vicars provincial;

A brother who holds the office of vicar of the province upon the death or removal of the prior provincial must report to the provincial chapter on his administration.

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.

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, without prejudice to CLC 127, § I.

1. After the brothers in the house have been con­sulted, the superior of a house is appointed for three years by the prior provincial, or by the regional prior, if the appoint­ment concerns a brother assigned in a regional vicariate and unless the statutes of the vicariate provide otherwise. He may be appointed in the same manner for a further three years, but not for a third term.
2. At the end of the three-year period, the prior provin­cial or regional prior is obliged to appoint a superior within a month. However, a superior of a house shall remain in office until his successor is present in the house, unless the prior provincial determines otherwise.  

It is for the council:

1. to consent to the appointment or removal of the syndic;
2. to vote, as required in nn. 192, 197, 202, 206, and 207, for the admission of brothers to profession;
3. to dismiss a postulant or a novice when the matter is urgent;
4. to grant to those about to sit for an examination or to receive orders the approval concerning their behaviour required by our legislation;1
5. to approve the report of the syndic and of other administrators and to decide all other matters concerning economic administration, in accordance with nn. 563, § I, 568;
6. to decide on all matters left to the examination and decision of the council by a provincial chapter.

Provided that most of those who should be invited are present, in all transactions whatever is approved by an absolute majority – that is, by more than half the votes cast – has the force of law, without counting invalid votes and abstentions, without prejudice to CCL 127, § I.

1. If, for a period of three years, a province does not have three convents or thirty-five voters assigned in that province and habitually living there, the Master of the Order, having consulted his council, shall declare that it no longer enjoys the right to take part in general chapters as a province and shall reduce it to a vice-province or general vicariate in accordance with n. 257, unless a general chapter has already been convoked.
2. When a province which had been reduced to a vice-province as provided for in § I, shall once again, for a period of three years, have the necessary conditions, the Master of the Order must declare that it enjoys all its rights as a province.
3. In regions where, because of adverse circumstances, a provincial chapter cannot be held, the Master of the Order, with the consent of his council, may provide for its equitable representation at the general chapter.