RULES
The Order of Fraternitas Ordo Draconis is a pyramid institution at the top of which is the Grand Master who has the power to give directives to the base, which must unquestioningly accept them. It is clear that this authority entails enormous duties and responsibilities for the summit, which is aware that the pyramid only stands if the base is solid and cohesive.
The association is made up of both lay and ecumenical Knights with equal dignity. They swear to keep themselves upright, honest citizens and to profess the way of virtue, practising the maxim that says ‘love thy neighbour as thyself’.
The Order is articulated without geographical barriers, operating worldwide, restoring the original values necessary to perfect the universal aspect of the Knights and Dames.
STRUCTURE
1) At the apex is the Grand Master, who heads the Grand Magistry “governing body”, composed of the Lieutenant General and the Grand Chancellor. The Grand Master also presides over the Grand Council and the Chapter General. Reporting personally to the Grand Master is the Grand Magistry’s Guard Corps, which provides, among other duties, the Grand Master’s escort service. In command of the Corps is the Commandant of the Guard, appointed by the Grand Master.
2) The Grand Supreme Council: Is the Order’s constitutional reviewing, guiding and controlling body. Its members include: the Lieutenant General, who is the Grand Master’s Vicar General, the First Marshal, the Grand Chancellor, the Grand Treasurer, the Grand Secretary, the Spiritual Adviser, the Grand Orator, the Grand Master, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, the Grand Siniscalco, the Grand Gonfalonier, the First Counselor, the Grand Prior General, the Grand Commander General, the Grand Bailiff General, the first Judge of the Grand Jury.
3) The Ordinary Council: this is the streamlined and only operational structure of the Grand Council. It is composed of the Lieutenant, the Grand Chancellor, the Grand Treasurer, the Grand Secretary, the Grand Prior General, Gran Commendator General and the First Councilor.
4) The territorial Grand Priors, territorial Grand Commanders, territorial Grand Bailiffs, plenipotentiary Ambassadors and Magistral Delegates. These, although they have the prerogatives of the command of the Order, entrusted to them by Magistral delegation, cannot sign any treaty of alliance, friendship, recognition or anything else as they do not possess sovereign prerogatives. Likewise, the Grand Priors, Grand Commanders, Grand Bailiffs, within their own territories, shall have no administrative or accounting autonomy except through special dispensations issued by the Grand Magistry (see paragraph on contributions, oblations and expenses). The formation of a new Grand Priory, Commendatory, Bailiwick, cannot be carried out and will not be valid, unless it has been expressly approved by the Supreme Council, with the binding opinion of the Grand Chancellor. Requests for local or international investitures must be submitted to the Grand Chancellor, which, according to Article 23 of the Statute, independently decides on the appointment and/or dismissal of Ambassadors, Ministers Plenipotentiary and foreign delegates.
5) The Council of Overseers: this is composed of a three knights belonging to the Order with the rank of not less than Commander. It scrutinises the conduct of the various Grand Priors, Grand Commanders, Grand Bailiffs, Plenipotentiary Ambassadors, Magistral Delegates, knights and dames, and reports to the Lieutenant General for appropriate disciplinary measures.
6) Grand Jury: This is what the ‘Court of the Order’ is called.
It is presided over by the Grand Judge, the Chief Judge and an Assistant Judge.
It takes cognizance of all issues that may arise between the various institutions and the members of the Order, seeking to reconcile them.
It judges the accusations, which if found to be justified result in a proper trial. If the accusations are found to be unfounded, the person who made them falls under the penalty of censure. The grand jury can convene anywhere to deliberate and judge. At each opening the following formula will be recited: ‘In the Name of God and the Order, We the Supreme Judges meet to deliberate and ensure that our judgement is righteous, fair and congruous and not influenced by our human weaknesses’. Any ruling is recorded in a black Book, with the symbol of the ‘Inverted Dragon’ on the first page, known as the ‘Discipline’, it is kept by the Grand Chancellor. The defence before the Grand Jury may be held by the accused himself or by a person of his choice, provided he is a Knight of the Order. There is no recourse to either the civil or criminal court, as the matter is of internal knightly order, except for criminal offences that will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. Decisions can be made by a 2/3 majority.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR KNIGHTS AND DAMIES: members are obliged to actively participate in the Order’s activities. It is absolutely forbidden for members to seek, individually or jointly, pecuniary and commercial advantages of any kind using the name of the Order. If the members ignore this rule and bring discredit to the Order and/or manifest indignity or offences of lese majesty against the Grand Master, the Dignitaries of the Grand Council and the Order itself, they will be subject to the following penalties:
b. Recall
c. Written reprimand and censure
d. Warning
e. Removal from office
The minor sanctions: written reprimand and censure, warning, will be established by the Lieutenant General, authorised by the Grand Magistry, while the dismissal and/or suspension will be established by the Grand Jury. The Lieutenant General, after hearing the opinion of the Grand Chancellor, is authorized to suspend immediately from the Order, pending the official sentence by the Grand Jury, the member who has committed the infraction.
f. The Grand Priors, Grand Commanders, Grand Bailiffs or whoever has the territorial competence (Prior, Bailiff, Commander, etc.) can be dismissed or be “Suspended ad Vitam”, with Publication of the sentence of Removal or Suspension, only by Measure of the Grand Master of the Fraternitas. The Territorial “Knights” of the Territorial Grand Priors, Territorial Grand Commanders, Territorial Grand Bailiffs dismissed or suspended, will be invited to transit temporarily with all their prerogatives “In the Guard Corps of the Grand Magistry” under the dependence of the Commander of the Guard under the direct observance of the Lieutenant General
g. The “legitimate successor”, of the Grand Prior, of the Grand Commander, and of the Grand Bailiff or whoever has the territorial competence (Prior, Bailiff, Commander, etc.) subject to the regime of suspension, when he enters in possession of the territoriality, will have to be reconfirmed by decree by the Grand Master and only then he will be able to enjoy all the prerogatives of the Order.
h. Any member of the Order who has spent a canonical year without direct attendance in the Order (unexcused absence for a maximum of three times and/or excused absence for a maximum of five consecutive times from Council meetings, investiture Chapters and General Chapters), whatever his title, is to be considered EXCUSED to all intents and purposes’.
i. No offices outside those mentioned in these Regulations are recognized. Likewise, all governing bodies may not hold offices of any kind with other similar Associations, Bodies or Orders, under penalty of forfeiture of the office held.
l. Those who have vituperated the Order, bringing it dishonour, remain “brothers” for us, since the motto of the Fraternitas states: “He who joins the Order will be a member forever”, however they will be removed and not prosecuted according to the law, if they are extraneous we will bear their vile calumnies and murmurs with holy patience and discipline, because in Our Order the rule is “forbearance”.
MARKS OF THE ORDER AND THEIR USE: All members belonging to the Order, or who have belonged to the Order, are absolutely forbidden to
A. to form any Organization or Association with a name that recalls the name belonging to the Order, especially – FRATERNITAS ORDO DRACONIS and SOVEREIGN INTERNATIONAL ORDO DRACONIS (Sovereign International Order of Drake).
B. Use coats of arms, logos, seals or other identifying marks of the Order; cloaks or insignia of the Order (with the exception of jacket pins). Letterheads, business cards or other documents of any kind, and in the broadest sense, may be used with the prior consent of the Grand Chancellery.
