Canon 135

Can. 135 §1. The power of governance is distinguished as legislative, executive, and judicial.

Can. 135 §2. Legislative power must be exercised in the manner prescribed by law; that which a legislator below the supreme authority possesses in the Church cannot be validly delegated unless the law explicitly provides otherwise. A lower legislator cannot validly issue a law contrary to higher law.

Can. 135 §3. Judicial power, which judges or judicial colleges possess, must be exercised in the manner prescribed by law and cannot be delegated except to perform acts preparatory to some decree or sentence.

Can. 135 §4. In what pertains to the exercise of executive power, the prescripts of the following canons are to be observed.