Canon 271

1. The eparchial bishop must establish a college of eparchial

consultors to which belong the functions determined by law. 2.

The college of eparchial consultors is to be constituted for a

five-year period but upon the expiration of the term they continue in the exercise of their functions until a new college is

established. 3. The members of the college of eparchial consultors must be not less than six nor more than twelve in number;

if, for any reason whatever, within the determined five-year

period there is no minimum number of members of the college, the

eparchial bishop is to restore the college by appointment of new

members, otherwise the college cannot act validly. 4. The members of the college of eparchial consultors are freely appointed

by the eparchial bishop from those who, at the time of their appointment, are members of the presbyteral council. 5. The eparchial bishop presides over the college of eparchial consultors;

when the eparchial see is vacant or impeded, it is presided over

by the one who, in the interim, holds the place of the eparchial

bishop or, if none has been designated, by the priest of the

college itself who is senior by sacred ordination. 6. Whenever

the law establishes that the eparchial bishop needs the consent

of the college of eparchial consultors, it is sufficient for the

patriarch, in the matters of the eparchy which he himself governs, that he consult this college.