In much of the Communion the body by which this representation is achieved is called the diocesan synod.
The precise composition of a diocesan synod is subject to provincial and local canon and practice.
The method of election may be by simple plurality (i.e., first past the post) or by single transferable vote, and each diocesan synod may choose between these two.
The governing bodies of Episcopal Units in the three-tikanga church are each referred to by names appropriate to their tikanga's language: the New Zealand and Polynesia dioceses by diocesan synods, Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa by te rūnanganui ("great assembly") and the other pīhopatanga by hui amorangi.
These smaller pīhopatanga's hui amorangi ("governing bodies") are not exactly equivalent to diocesan synods in that they are not fully independent of te rūnanganui.