Organizational Structure

All members of the Knights of Columbus belong to a particular Council, and any group of at least thirty men may apply to found a new Council in their area. The highest elected officer of each Council is the Grand Knight, who, with the other Council Officers, is elected by the membership each year. The Grand Knight appoints various Program Directors and Chairmen to run the Council's activities for the year. All Council activities except Membership activities, fall into one of five Program Areas, each with a Director. The five Directors of Church Activities, Community Activities, Council Activities, Family Activities and Youth Activities report to a General Programs Director, who in turn reports to the Grand Knight.

Several Councils within the same geographic area join together in a District under the guidance of the District Deputy and perhaps his assistant, the District Warden.

Many of the Order’s jurisdictions, including ours, have established Chapters that are formed largely for the purpose of increasing communication. Chapters are normally found in larger metropolitan areas where a high concentration of Councils are located. Chapters elect officers and Trustees but they meet less frequently than do their member councils (once every other month or quarterly) and they meet most often in council halls. Each Council in a Chapter will select two members to represent them at the chapter meetings. Chapters also sponsor some program activities.

Assemblies are composed of Fourth Degree members from councils within specific geographic areas in the State. Fourth Degree members are generally the most visible aspect of the Knights of Columbus that the general public identifies with in that they are the men who wear tuxedos, capes and plumed hats in parades and various ceremonial occasions. Assemblies tend to meet at schools or council or church halls. The size of Assemblies ranges from small numbers to well over 400 members, however, business meetings tend to have about 20-40 members in attendance.

The District Officers are appointed by the State Deputy, the highest elected officer of the State Council. State Officers and Program Chairmen are analogous to those at the Council level and coordinate the activities of all the Councils throughout the State. Each Spring, the State Deputy hosts a Convention to elect officers and conduct other State business. Every Grand Knight and one elected Delegate represent every Council in the state at this Convention.

The highest level within the Knights of Columbus is the Supreme Council, headed by the Supreme Knight. At the Supreme Convention each summer, State Deputies and Representatives from each State, Territory, or Country meet to conduct business concerning the international operation of the Order.

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