Canon 985

1. The power of governance is distinguished as legislative,

executive and judicial. 2. Legislative power is to be exercised in the manner prescribed by law, and that legislative power

in the Church possessed by a legislator below the highest Church

authority cannot be validly delegated, unless otherwise explicitly provided for in the common law; a law which is contrary to a

higher law cannot be validly enacted by a lower level legislator.

3. Judicial power, which is possessed by judges or judicial

colleges, is to be exercised in the manner prescribed by law and

cannot be delegated, except to carry out acts which are preparatory to a decree or a sentence.