Governed by a General Convention with representatives in a House of Bishops and a House of Deputies (lay and clergy representatives), the Episcopal Church is comprised of 99 dioceses (a collection of churches and missions in a geographic area led by a Bishop) in the United States plus 10 dioceses in other countries or outlying U. S. territories. These dioceses are grouped into nine provinces, the first eight of which, for the most part, correspond to regions of the U.S. Province IX is composed of dioceses in Latin America. Province II and Province VIII also include dioceses outside of the U.S.

Unlike in many churches of the Anglican Communion, in which provinces are helmed by a primate or presiding bishop from the clergy, provinces of TEC are led by lay executive directors or presidents. Decisions are made at each province's Synod of the Province, consisting of a House of Bishops (all the Bishops in that Province) and House of Deputies (Lay and clergy Deputies elected from each diocese).