If the Knights of Columbus have grown so steadily and
strongly since their charter was granted by the State of Connecticut
in 1882, much of the credit can go to the firm structural foundation
on which the organization was established, and to the caliber of the
men attracted to its ranks.
As a fraternal benefit society, the Order operates in accordance
with the laws relating to such groups. These regulations require a
representative form of government comprised of a supreme governing or
legislative body and subordinate branches. Members are elected,
initiated and admitted into the society according to the provisions of
its constitution, laws and rules.
The society is governed by the Supreme Council, its top legislative
body. There are 64 state councils and several territorial
jurisdictions encompasing more than 10,000 subordinate councils to
which more than 1.5 million members belong.
Groups of councils, ideally four or more in adjacent or nearby
localities, are formed into districts under a district deputy.
The Supreme Council is composed of the supreme officers (supreme
knight, chaplain, deputy supreme knight, secretary, treasurer,
advocate, physician and warden); the supreme directors (a 24-member
body elected for three-year terms by the Supreme Council at its annual
meeting);the past supreme knights; the state deputy and the last
living past state deputy of the various state councils; and such
delegates as are duly chosen by the state councils.
Executive authority is vested in the supreme officers, who are
elected annually by the supreme directors.
The state councils are made up of the state deputy, who is the
representative of the supreme knight in each state, and other state
officers, the last living past state deputy, the grand knight and a
past grand knight from each subordinate council.
Charters establishing subordinate councils are granted upon
completion of 30 members or applicants for membership. The presiding
officer is the grand knight. Titles of the other officers on both the
state and local levels are similar to those on the supreme level, with
some additions. In all there are 17 council officers, of whom 12 are
elected to their positions annually. Five others are appointed by the
grand knight, including a program director and a membership director.
These men in turn appoint and supervise various committees charged
with council projects and membership recruitment and retention. A new
knight is encouraged to become active in his council by making himself
available for membership in one or more of these committees. The
council's financial secretary is appointed directly by the supreme
knight.
It is the responsibility of the program director and his church,
community, council, family and youth directors to provide balanced,
attractive and effective activities for the members. There is no doubt
that participation in council projects and the experience gained in
leadership positions stand a man in good stead throughout his
life.