The Government of the Order is elected every ten years (to the exception of the Council of the Founding Houses that works as a dynastic body), in the years ended in zero (i.e. 2010, 2o2o, etc.) It has been a common practice for the Grand Master to stay in Office for life (or until he resigns). The present Chancellor and Grand Master, Her Excellency Dame Lourdes de Jesus Gomes Pereira de Carvalho e Almeida Diegues, has already communicated her desire to abandon the position she has held since 1961 for health reasons, in the end of 2010.