DRAFT

Constitution
of the Order of Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr

I.Historical Background
Art. 1
1.The Order of Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, further called the “Order” is a continuator of the ideas which lay at the foundations of the Order of Saint Stanislaus, established on the 7th of May 1765 by the last king of Poland, Stanisław Autust Poniatowski, in 1831 included in the Orders of the Russian Empire, and disbanned by the Bolshevik authorities in 1917.
2.The Order’s current activity is based on respecting the cardinal rules established in the Original Constitution of the Order of Saint Stanislaus, passed by the Grand Chapter of the Order on the motion of the VIII Grand Master, Juliusz Nowina – Sokolnicki on the 15th of September 1990 – following the Order’s separation from the Polish National Orders in accordance with the provisions of the “Statute of the Order of Saint Stanislaus” from the 15th of November 1984.
3.Maintaining the provision specified in item 1, this Constitution reorganizes the Order through giving it an organizational and legal form taking into account the worldwide pursuit of democratizing forms of cooperation in all areas of human life.

II.General Regulations
Art. 2
1.The Order is a worldwide fellowship of Chevaliers and Dames, who knowingly and voluntarily, through a solemn vow took on the obligations of carrying out the goals and tasks established in the Constitution, passed and accepted by the Order’s Founder, Stanisław August Poniatowski, king of Poland – united under the patronage of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr of Szczepanów and wearing an Order’s badge with his noble image.
2.Approving the historic and nationwide traditional character of the Order of Saint Stanislaus, the Order adopts to cultivate its traditions and, as a result, maintain its character, along with acquiring exclusive rights to the appearance of the Order’s badge and protecting it against appropriation and use by unauthorized persons for private and commercial use.
3.All members of the Order are equal regardless of race, religion, background and gender.
4.The official languages of the Order are Polish and English.
5.The Grand Master presides over the Order. The Order is administrated and managed by the Grand Master in close cooperation with the Grand Chapter.
6.The Grand Master represents the Order’s Dames and Chevaliers around the world. The Grand Master is elected via a secret vote for a 5 year tenure, without limitations to the number of subsequent tenures. Significant decisions regarding the Order’s operation are consulted with the Grand Chapter.
7.The Grand Master is a citizen of the Republic of Poland.
8.The Grand Prior of Poland is the Deputy Grand Master.
9.All members of the Grand Chapter and the Constitutional Council are elected via a secret vote for a common 5 year tenure without limitations to the number of subsequent tenures.
10.An elected member of the Grand Chapter and Constitutional Council submits a written declaration of participation in the Order’s work, and by doing so takes on the obligation of participating in its activities during the period of the tenure.
11.The Grand Master of the Order presides over the Court of Honor. The Court must include at least three members. Members of the ruling body should be members of the priory specific to the organizational membership of the defendant.
12.The decision of the Court of Honor is not final and an appeal can be made to the Constitutional Council. The Constitutional Council’s decision is final.
13.Dames and Chevaliers of the Order are united in Priories and Commanderies.
14.Priories and Commanderies having a legal status, act in accordance with the statutes approved by appropriate registering authorities based on appropriate national regulations.
15.A candidate accepted into the ranks of the Order’s Dames and Chevaliers during the investiture ceremony receives a Chevalier’s Cross, while in justified cases while vested for the first time, a Dame or Chevalier may receive an Officer’s Cross and in special circumstances (especially in cases of members of clerigy), a Commander’s Cross.
16.Chevaliers and Dames may be given an Order only one class higher for at least every two years of active charitable work in the Order, unless a decision by the Grand Master or the Grand Chapter allows granting a higher Order class under special circumstances.
17.Acceptance of a candidate to the Order, as well as granting higher Order classes must be preceded by a written motion and opinion procedure. The National Grand Prior or a selected member of the Order’s authorities is responsible for keeping the documents.
18.All costs of participation in investitures and other ceremonies are covered by Chevaliers and dames from their private resources.
19.The financing of the Order’s charitable activity takes place via the administration of financial resources exclusively by individual Priories, in accordance with the charitable activities conducted in their area. Charitable funds are primarily comprised of membership fees and donations from individual and legal entities.

III.Aims of the Order’s activity
Art. 3
1.The aims of the Order’s activity are:
1)Providing help to people, especially those who are suffering, through the support of hospitals, hospices, schools, orphanages, nursing homes for the disabled, with special consideration for the children in Poland,
2)Encouraging to pay attention to and recognize charitable activities through accepting representatives of all races, creeds and religions into the Order,
3)Maintaining the spirit of chivalry, favoring the ideas of King Stanisław August Poniatowski, supporting family values and traditions, developing education and the individual initiative of all people.
2.In order to achieve the goals specified in item 1, the Chevaliers and Dames of the Order may take advantage of the following entitlements:
1)Ability to request support and cooperation from other Dames and Chevaliers of the Order – within the boundaries of their possibilities and competence,
2)Ability to request help of and cooperate with other people who support the Order,
3)Ability to submit a motion to the Grand Master, the Grand Chapter and other organs representing the Order in every country in due process, with initiatives aimed at acquiring valuable people who share the aims of the Order,
4)Acquisition of financial resources from every person, or persons, with the exception of operating a business enterprise by the Order,
5)Promotion the Order and assistance in organizing exhibitions, seminars, shows or lectures, which will increase the Order’s potential,
6)Participation in trainings and other forms of education which will allow the development of skills and acquisition of knowledge necessary to carry out the Order’s goals,
7)Participation in all other legal actions aimed at achieving specific charitable goals.

IV.Order Authorities
International Conference of the Order
Art. 4
1.The International Conference of the Order is the highest authority of the Order, entitled to pass the Order’s Constitution, make changes to the Order’s Constitution, elect the Grand Master, Grand Chapter and Constitutional Council, as well as make other significant changes to the order.
2.The Conference is called by the Grand Master or Grand Prior of Poland in agreement with the President of the Constitutional Council. The organizers present the conference meeting’s agenda.
3.The conference takes place at the initiative of the Grand Master of the Order, or on the motion of:
1)The Grand Chapter of the Order,
2)The Constitutional Board,
3)The Chapter of the Grand Priory of Poland,
4)No less than 30% of priories.
4.Participants of the Conference of the Order with a deciding vote include members of the Grand Chapter, Members of the Constitutional Council, Grand Priors, Continental Priors, the Chapter of the Grand Priory of Poland, priors, and commanders of Polish and foreign priories.
5.The conference takes place once every 5 years. In special cases, a Special International Conference may take place.
6.The detailed proceedings of the Conference are established in the regulations passed each time at the beginning of the Conference.

Grand Chapter

Art. 5
1.The Grand Chapter consists of 7 – 15 members. During the Grand Chapter’s tenure personnel changes may occur, but of no more than 8 members. Supplementary elections are held via a secret vote by the Grand Chapter on the motion of the Grand Master.
2.All members of the Grand Chapter are entitled to wear the Order Chain and the associated right to put the abbreviated indication of being given the highest Order class, GCCStS, following their names.
3.The Grand Chapter is comprised of the following Officers of the Order:
1)The Grand Master of the Order, who is responsible for the continuing operation of the order and adherence to the Constitution, and:  
a)Issues diplomas, nomination documents and other essential documentation,
b)Presides over investiture ceremonies, if needed, or at his discretion, granting his partial entitlements onto the national prior,
c)Expresses agreement to hold an investiture ceremony,
d)Personally accepts a candidate to the ranks of Dames and Chevaliers of the Order, unless he gives this entitlement to an authorized Officer of the Order based on a written or spoken authorization,
e)In case of not being elected for another tenure, he may perpetually use the title of Master Emeritus.
2)Deputy Grand Master, who is by default the Grand Prior of Poland, carries out the obligations given to him by the Grand Master, and in the event of the expiry of the Grand Master’s mandate during the Grand Prior’s tenure, takes over the responsibilities until the end of the tenure.
3)Grand Chancellor, is responsible for the development of the Order around the world via his directly subordinate Continental Chancellors and accompanies the Grand Master during all ceremonies of the Order.
4)Grand Secretary, who is responsible for the flow of information from the Grand Master to the Grand Chapter and from the Grand Chapter to other members of the Order, so that the information may be promulgated to all other Officers of the Order, and is responsible for office work and correspondence in the Grand Master’s Office.
5)Grand Archivist, responsible for order during the proceeding and the Order’s protocols, he also keeps the archives, which are not kept by the Grand Herald.
6)Grand Prelate, who is responsible for the religious elements of investiture ceremonies and presenting the ceremonies, being of Christian denomination, and in the event of having Order members of different denominations, he is also entitled to appoint chaplains of other denominations and delegate them to provide services for the abovementioned members.
7)Grand Herald, who:
a)Is responsible for the Order Crest College, in this respect in close cooperation with the Grand Master,
b)Watches over all Crests worn by Dames and Chevaliers of the Order, as well as the places, where they are kept,
c)Recommends to the Grand Master those Officers, who are entitled to wear the Justice Cross,
d)Is Keeper of the archives relating to crests and insignia.
8)Grand Chronicler, who is responsible for press and media releases, edits the Order’s Newsletter and appoints appropriate press officers all around the world, as well as gathers and stores all media releases regarding the Order, its activities and Officers.
9)Marshal of the Convention of Seniors, who presides over a group of retired higher officers of the Order.
10)Ambassador of the Order at the European Union, who represents the Order in front of the European Commission and the European Parliament.
11)Grand Counselors, who carry out special tasks appointed by the Grand Master and the Grand Chapter, as well as take care of supplementary training of current Grand Chapter Members.

Constitutional Council

Art. 6
1.The Constitutional Council is appointed by the International Conference of the Order for a period of 5 years.
2.The Constitutional Council is comprised of 3 to 5 members, including a chairman and secretary. The Constitutional Council should include the most experienced and trusted Officers of the Order.
3.The Constitutional Council’s task is to watch over the adherence to the Constitution’s provisions by the Grand Master, Grand Chapter and Officers of the Order.
4.The detailed scope of responsibilities is specified by the Constitutional Council in agreement with the Grand Master and Grand Chapter.
5.All members of the Constitutional Council are entitled to wear the Order Chain and the associated right to put the abbreviated indication of being given the highest Order class, GCCStS, following their names.

Other Officers of the Order

Art. 7
1.Apart from the structures of the Grand Chapter, other Officers of the Order, who are not members of the Grand Chapter, are appointed by the Grand Master in agreement with the Grand Chapter.
2.The Officers mentioned in item 1 are:
1)Ambassadors, who act on behalf of and represent the Order in those places domestically and abroad, where priories and commanderies have not been established, and their task is to actively promote the Order and recommend valuable people for the Order.
2)Grand Priors, who:
a)Are the outside representatives of the Dames and Chevaliers of a given Priory,
b)Carry out their function in geographically specified Grand Priories,
3)Are responsible for the Priors and Commanders in the scope of their jurisdiction and substitute for the Grand Master, if so required.
4)Are elected in accordance with the current statute of the given Priory and approved by the Grand Chapter and Grand Master.
5)Priors, who:
a)In agreement with the Grand Prior may appoint Commanders within the priories that they manage,
b)Are responsible for the organizational and charitable activities within their priories,
c)Represent the order in front of the authorities,
6)Commanders, who organize and manage the activities of Commanderies, take action in favor of Order membership and fully participate in all activities of their Commandery and Priory.

V.Members of the Order, rights and responsibilities

Art. 8
1.Acceptance of a candidate to the Order may take place only based on the candidate’s written motion, approved by a Prior, commander or another Officer of the Order. Approval of the candidate’s motion and acceptance into the ranks of Dames and Chevaliers of the Order remains at the discretion of the Prior or individual commander. Detailed procedures in this area are regulated by Grand Priors within their individual territories.
2.Persons who are at least 25 years of age may become a Dame or Chevalier of the Order.
3.The Order does not grant any other titles beyond the titles of Chevalier or Dame of the Order of Saint Stanislaus, with the exception of Dames and Chevaliers who have been granted the Grand Cross. They are entitled to perpetual nobility.
4.Dames and Chevaliers of the Order – Members of the Order are entitled to wear the crimson colored order robe with the Order’s insignia on a white coat of arms.
5.Receiving the honor of Dame or Chevalier of the Order takes place during the ceremonial investiture following making a vow to be faithful to the Constitution of the Order and putting on the order robe. Detailed procedures in this respect are regulated by Grand Priors within their individual territories.
6.Chevaliers and Dames of the Order are obliged to annually participate in the carried out charitable actions, organizational operations, investitures and other ceremonies, as well as to pay their membership fees.
7.The Order may be granted posthumously by the Grand Master.

Art. 9
On the motion of individual Grand Priors, the Grand Master may grant honorary membership of the Order.

VI.Expulsion from the Order.

Art. 10
1.Expulsion from the Order is the most severe punishment used against a Dame or Chevalier of the Order and should be used in special situations and with extreme care.
2.A person lawfully expelled from the Order is immediately bereaved of all rights and privileges granted by the Order. Such a person may no longer wear the Order’s insignia, nor can they represent the Order in any situation.
3.Reasons for expulsion from the order may include (the following list does not exhaust the possibilities):
1)Self-appointed attempts to usurp the function of Grand Master or of another Officer of the Order, especially member of the Grand Chapter,
2)Attempts to overthrow the Order’s constitutional legal framework,
3)Promulgating propaganda harmful to the Order,
4)Undignified conduct while carrying the Order’s insignia,
5)Taking actions which disqualify a given person as a Dame or Chevalier of the Order or harms the good name of the Order.
4.A Chevalier or Dame accused of any of the acts mentioned in item 3 above may be punished with:
1)a written reprimand,
2)a public reprimand,
3)temporary suspension of rights as a Dame or Chevalier of the Order,
4)expulsion.
5.In the event of committing acts undisputedly punished by expulsion, before making the decision to expel the Dame or Chevalier, they may be asked to act honorably and submit their own resignation from the Order.
6.A Dame or Chevalier may submit an appeal of the decision of punishment mentioned in item 4 point 3 and 4 with the Court of Honor.

VII.Final Provisions

Art. 11
All changes to the Constitution may be introduced only by the International Conference of the Order.

Art. 12
1.On the effective date of this Constitution, the hitherto effective, amended Constitution of the Order of Saint Stanislaus from the 1st of March 1999, changed through decrees of the VIII Grand Master of the Order, Juliusz Nowina – Sokolnicki issued on the 31st of March 2004 and 22nd of November 2006, becomes null and void.
2.Decrees of the Grand Master of the Order, Grand Chapter, Grand Priors, and other legal acts issued on the basis of the amended Constitution of the Order of Saint Stanislaus from the 1st of March 1999, mentioned in item 1, retain their effectiveness, as long as they are not contrary to the provisions of this Constitution.
3.Nomination acts issued on the basis of the amended Constitution of the Order of Saint Stanislaus from the 1st of March 1999, mentioned in item 1, retain their effectiveness, as long as they are not contrary to the provisions of this Constitution.

The contents of the Constitution of the Order of Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, approved by the participants of the III International Conference are confirmed with the signatures of the President and Secretary of the Conference which conferred in Gniezno – Poland.



President of the Conference                                                                          Secretary of the Conference

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