The Administrative System of the Colleges

The Heads of the Colleges include: Abbots, finance managers of the Dam region, masters of the holy headquarters, college disciplinarians, college prayer leaders, Lamas private residential mangers, storeroom managers and secretaries. The higher positions such as the finance managers, the disciplinarians, and the masters of the holy headquarters are appointed by the local government. The secondary positions are the storeroom managers and ex-disciplinations. The lower positions include stewards and the like.
The Abbots: The abbots are the supereme leadership of both political and religious affairs and they are appointed by the local government. The number of candidates for the election of the Abbots are decided according to a statement issued by the Je college in 1915. It said "The number of Abbots to be elected is decided by casting lots at general meetings, representative meeting or dormitory. If a disciplinarian wants to become a candidate in the election, he will be given the first place, while others will be chosen by divination of the God Hiyagriva, the Horse-Headed One. In case that that the disciplinarian doesn't want to be chosen as an Abbot, five candidates from the Geshe, the Doctors o Metaphysics should be elected. If a disciplinarian chooses to become and Abbot, the remaining number of Abbots elected must be four people, because the number can not exceed five people. The rank of abbots should be determined by determined by divination"

The Time of Post of the Abbot: According to document 《Records of the Successive Abbots of Je, Meand Ngagpa Colleges》, the time of posts for the abbots vary from twnety-five, eighteen, seventeen, and thirteen years, to two years. According to 《The Old Contract of Sera Je College》, Abbots should hold their positions for ten years, then voluntarily retire. Since these documments are fairly old, there was possible of changes in Later time.

Duty of Abbots: Religious duties: praying for the assembly, examining scripture, directing debates, supervising the evening debates, delivering sermons during the summer and spring religious festivals, ranking degrees for the candidates of the doctorate of metaphysics. The present Abots from Je, Med, ngagpa colleges should deliver sermons at confessions.
Political responsibilities: to take charge of the representive meetings, both the current and retired Abbots need to join the important conferences of the local government. When holding more extensive conference, the non-Abbots representatives from all colleges are also required to attend. The Abbots have the rights to make final decisions in the meeting, and affix the official seal of the monastery to the decisions. In short, the Abbots are entirely responsble for administration and developing all political and religious matters of the monastery.