This congregation originated in 1601 from the union of the congregations for the Consultations of Bishops and for the Consultations of Regulars. Presided over by a cardinal prefect, it had an adequate number of cardinals and the usual officials. Its competency was wide; only questions of doctrine, the formal interpretation of the Tridentine Decrees, marriage processes, and rites and ceremonies were excluded. Thus it was competent in all business concerning bishops and the proper administration of dioceses. It received appeals against bishops, and replied to doubts about diocesan administration. It also treated all affairs about religious; settled controversies between orders, or within an order; considered the establishment and suppression of religious houses; gave permission for religious to transfer to another order; and took cognizance of those who left their order. Pius X, September 8, 1908, suppressed it, giving its competency over affairs of bishops to the Congregation of the Council, and that over the affairs of religious to the newly founded Congregation for the Affairs of Religious.