Editing Knights of Columbus (section)

== Organization and principles ==
{{see also|Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus}}
{| class="wikitable floatright"
!style="background:#efefef|Council
!style="background:#efefef|Assembly
!style="background:#efefef|Circle
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Grand Knight
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Faithful Navigator
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Chief Squire
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Chaplain*
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Faithful Friar*
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Father Prior
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Deputy Grand Knight
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Faithful Captain
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Deputy Chief Squire
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Chancellor
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Faithful Admiral***
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Marshal Squire
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Recorder
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Faithful Scribe
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Notary Squire
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Financial Secretary**
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Faithful Comptroller
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Bursar Squire
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Treasurer
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Faithful Purser
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Bursar Squire
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Lecturer*
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| ''nonexistent''
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| ''nonexistent''
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Advocate
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| ''nonexistent''
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| ''nonexistent''
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Warden
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Faithful Pilot
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Marshal Squire
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Inside Guard
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Inner Sentinel
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Sentry
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Outside Guard
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Outer Sentinel
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Sentry
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Trustee (3 Year)
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Trustee (3 Year)
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| ''nonexistent''
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Trustee (2 Year)
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Trustee (2 Year)
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| ''nonexistent''
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Trustee (1 Year)
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Trustee (1 Year)
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| ''nonexistent''
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| ''nonexistent''
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| Color Corp Commander*
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| ''nonexistent''
|-
|}
The order is dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.<ref name="Knestout" /> Membership is restricted to men, at least 18 years of age, who are practicing Catholics in union with the [[Holy See]] and are in good standing with the Church.<ref name="jean" /> {{As of|2024|08}}, there were over 2.1 million Knights of Columbus worldwide, with the majority in North America.<ref name="columbia_2024report">{{cite journal |last=Kelly |first=Patrick |title=2024 Annual Report of the Supreme Knight |journal=Columbia |date=October 2024 |volume=104 |issue=8 |pages=16–21 |url=https://issuu.com/columbia-magazine/docs/columbiaoct24en/18 |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref><ref name="mares" /><ref name="remembered" /><ref name="detr" />

After his induction and completion of the Exemplification of Charity, a new member becomes a First Degree Knight. He then progresses through the Second and Third Degrees after completing the subsequent Exemplifications of Unity and Fraternity. A Third Degree Knight is considered to have attained full "Knighthood" status. Privileges of Third Degree membership include the ability to serve as a local council officer, and admission to state and Supreme Council business meetings.

A Third Degree Knight in good standing is eligible to complete the Exemplification of Patriotism and progress to the Fourth Degree. This is an optional degree, but represents the highest ideals of the order. A Knight who has attained this level is addressed as "Sir Knight".

Each member belongs to one of more than 17,000 '''local councils''' around the world.<ref name="columbia_2024report" /><ref name="hadro" /> Most are based in Catholic parishes, though some have their own council hall within a community. Each local council works to assist with the needs of its community consistent with the principles of the order.

The '''college councils''' program, started at [[Catholic University of America]] in 1898, was created to promote the moral, intellectual and spiritual development of college men on campuses throughout the world.<ref name="Pike" /> The oldest continuously running college council is the [[University of Notre Dame]] Council #1477, chartered in 1910.<ref name="urges" /> Councils at seminaries ("seminarian councils") are classified as college councils. {{As of|2024}}, there are more than 340 college councils worldwide.<ref name="califon" /><ref name="ash" />

Throughout most of its history, the Knights of Columbus has provided active support to members of the armed forces and their families. {{As of|2024}}, there are more than 50 '''military councils''' in military bases throughout North America and around the world.

A Knight who has attained the Fourth Degree also belongs to a '''Fourth Degree assembly'''. Fourth Degree Knights are men who have chosen to embrace the order's fourth principle of patriotism. Fourth Degree assemblies get their members from multiple councils within a local geographical area. They lead the efforts to reach out to veterans and active military and to embody the fact that one can be a faithful Catholic and also be a faithful citizen.<ref>{{cite web| last=Butler |first=Andrew |title=Who Are the Fourth Degree Knights? |url=https://www.kofc.org/en/news-room/articles/who-are-the-4th-degree-knights.html |website=kofc.org|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref> {{As of|2024}}, there are more than 3,600 Fourth Degree assemblies worldwide.

Fourth Degree assemblies may form '''Color Corps''', an elective division of the Fourth Degree, whose distinctive presence in parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, Confirmations and other Catholic functions are a visible reminder of the Knights' service to their communities. Fourth Degree Color Corps are often the most visible arm of the Knights.<ref name="Borowski" /><ref name="First"/>

The Supreme Council is the governing body of the order. It elects insurance members to serve three-year terms on a 24-member [[Board of Directors]].{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|pp=375–376}}<ref name="et" /> Leaders' salaries are set by the board of directors and ratified by the delegates to the Supreme Convention.<ref name="pay" /> The seven-figure salaries of senior K of C officers have been criticized as excessive.<ref name="pay" /><ref name="tablet9719" />

In 1969, the Knights opened a 23-story headquarters building in New Haven.{{sfn|Hubbard|Hubbard |2019|p=76–77}}<ref name="clark" />

(*''Appointed annually by each council's Grand Knight or Faithful Navigator'')
<br />(**''Appointed for a three-year term by the Supreme Knight'')
<br />(**''Appointed by the Past Faithful Navigators of the Assembly and Faithful Navigator'')
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; font-size:smaller;"
! Year
! Membership
! Councils
|-
|2024<ref name="columbia_2024report" />
|2,100,000+
|17,000+
|-
|2023{{r|PJS}}
|2,000,000+
|
|-
| 1982{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|p=xv}}
| 1,300,000
| <7,000
|-
|1964{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|p=397}}
|1,000,000+
|
|-
|1957{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|p=388}}
|1,000,000
|
|-
|1938{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|p=335}}
|500,000
|
|-
|1931{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|p=320}}
|
|2,600
|-
|1923{{sfn|Sweany|1923|p=1}}
|774,189
|2,290
|-
| 1917{{sfn|Sweany|1923|p=2}}{{sfn|Egan|Kennedy|p=v|1920}}
| 400,000
|
|-
| 1914{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|p=152}}
| 300,000+
| 
|-
| 1909<ref name="Diverse" />
| 230,000
| 1300
|-
| 1899{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|p=152}}<ref name="Diverse" />
| 40,267
| 300
|-
| 1897{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|p=127}}
| 16,651
| 195
|-
| 1892{{sfn|Koehlinger|2004}}
| 6,500
| 
|-
| 1886{{sfn|Kauffman|1982|p=127}}
| 2,700
| 27
|-
| 1884{{sfn|Brinkley|Fenster|2006|p=171}} 
| 459
| 5
|}