At the beginning of each year, the Presiding Committee of the Court (Präsidium) decides on the schedule of duties (Geschäftsverteilungsplan) which specifies the jurisdiction and judges of each division. Before legal proceedings are initiated, the schedule of duties lays down which division has to hear and decide the case. It thus implements the constitutional provision that no one may be removed from the jurisdiction of his lawful judge (Article 101 of the German Constitution [Grundgesetz]).