The Plenary Council of the Order according to the General Constitutions and Statutes
13 April 2018
GENERAL CONSTITUTIONSChapter VIITitle VThe Plenary Council of the OrderArticle 193 The Minister General with his Definitory, the Secretary General and the Councillors elected and designated in accordance with the General Statutes, together make up the Plenary Council of the Order.Article 194 The duty of the Plenary Council, assembled collegially, is the following:
to offer assistance to the Minister General and his Definitory in governing and inspiring the Order;
to encourage relations and communications between the General Curia and the Conferences, and between the Conferences themselves;
to implement the decisions and decrees of the previous Chapter; to enact decisions and decrees proposed by the General Definitory even if they are contrary to the articles of the General Statutes; these are to have force until the next Chapter;
to interpret the General Constitutions or General Statutes in accordance with article 15 par. 2-3 of the General Constitutions;
to help prepare the next General Chapter and to offer advice regarding its location;
to discuss the finances of the Order.
Article 195
1 Unless it has otherwise been expressly determined, the Plenary Council of the Order has a consultative vote.
2 The procedure of a Plenary Council is set down in its rules of procedure.
GENERAL STATUTESChapter VIITitle VThe Plenary Council of the OrderArticle 144The Plenary Council of the Order is to be convoked by the Minister General at the time and place established by the General Chapter or when it seems opportune to the Minister himself, with the consent of his Definitory, and, in addition, any time the majority of the Conferences requests it.Article 145
1 The Council Members of the Plenary Council of the Order are to be elected by the Conferences of Ministers Provincial so that two Council Members are present from each Conference.
2 The Minister General, with the consent of his Definitory, can designate other Council Members for the Plenary Council, provided that the designated Councillors do not exceed half the number of the Conferences of Ministers Provincial.
3 Friars, who may or may not be Ministers, can be elected as Council Members. The election of Council Members is made by the Conferences as they see fit, so that the Council Members will have been elected at least three months before the celebration of the Plenary Council. The names of the elected Council Members and of their substitutes are to be sent to the Minister General in good time.
Article 146
1 The Minister General, with the consent of his Definitory, compiles the list of questions to be dealt with in the Plenary Council and is to ensure that this is sent to the members of the Conferences of Ministers Provincial six months beforehand so that they may exchange ideas on the matters proposed.
2 It is the right of each Friar to propose to the Minister General, in good time, topics to be dealt with during the Plenary Council; likewise, each Member is able to present questions to be discussed during the assembly itself, if one third of the Council has approved them.
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