The highest authority within the Order of Preachers is the General Chapter, which is empowered to develop legislation governing all organizations within the Dominican umbrella, as well as enforce that legislation. The General Chapter is composed of two bodies, the Chapter of Provincials and the Chapter of Diffinitors, a unique organization within the Catholic Church. Each body is of equal authority to propose legislation and discuss other matters of general importance within the order. The bodies may be called individually or jointly. The Pronvincials consists of the superiors of individual Dominican provinces, while the Diffinitors consists of representatives of each province. The Chapter of Diffinitors was created to avoid having provincial superiors spend excessive time away from there day to day duties of governing. To maintain stability of the legislation of the order, new legislation is enacted only when approved by three successive meetings of the General Chapter.^[1]

The General Chapter elects a Master of the Order, who has "broad and direct authority over every brother, convent and province, and over every nun and monastery".^[2] The master is consisted the successor Saint Dominic, the first Master of the Order, or envisioned the office to the one of service to the community, rather than domination. The master is currently elected for a 9-year term, and is aided by assistants known as "socci", and by the General Curia of the Order. His is authority is subject only to the General Chapter.^[2] He, along with the General Chapter, may assign members, and appoint or remove superiors and other officials for the good of the order.^[2][1]