GOVERNANCE The Sovereign Order of Malta is a sovereign subject of international law. The Order, based in Rome in Via Condotti - has its own Government, an independent magistracy, bilateral diplomatic relations with 103 countries and is granted the status of Permanent Observer in many international organisations, such as the United Nations. The six Grand Priories, six Subpriories and 47 National Associations manage its operational activities in the five continents.The Order issues its own passports and stamps and creates public institutions, endowed with independent juridical personality. The Constitutional Charter and the Code, reformed in 1997, govern the Order. The Grand Master governs the Order both as sovereign and religious head. He is elected for life, within the professed knights in perpetual vows. He is assisted by and presides over the Sovereign Council, which is composed of four high offices - Grand Commander, Grand Chancellor, Grand Hospitaller, and Receiver of the Common Treasure - as well as six other members, all elected by the Order's Chapter General for a five-year term. The Council of Government and the Board of Auditors, whose compositions reflect the international character of the Order, assist the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council. The Chapter General also elects these two bodies for a five-year term. The usual division into three powers expresses the legal system of the Order: Legislative power - Rests with the Grand Master and Sovereign Council for non-constitutional matters; with the Chapter General, representing the Supreme Assembly of Knights, as far as constitutional rules are concerned. Executive power - Rests with the Sovereign Council, chaired by the Grand Master and composed of ten Knights elected by the Chapter General. Judicial power - Exercised by the Magistral Courts of First Instance and of Appeal, composed of judges appointed by the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council from Order members of legal expertise. The Australian Association of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta was founded on 28 September 1974 and has in excess of 250 members and aspirant members in Branches in Queensland, New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and South Australia, and has a growing presence in Western Australia. Additionally, active Delegations of the Australian Association were established in the Republic of Singapore (Singapore has now progressed to the status of a National Association in its own right) and in New Zealand. New Zealand is progressing towards the status of a National Association in its own right, subject to final approval by Sovereign Council. |
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