USC Chapter 2303

in effect

36 U.S.C. § 230301 Organization

(a) Federal Charter.—Veterans of World War I of the United States of America, Incorporated (in this chapter, the “corporation”), is a federally chartered corporation. (b) Place of Incorporation and Domicile.—The corporation is declared to be incorporated and domiciled in the District of Columbia. (c) Perpetual Existence.—Except as otherwise provided, the corporation has perpetual existence.

36 U.S.C. § 230302 Purposes

The purposes of the corporation are patriotic, fraternal, historical, and educational, in the service and for the benefit of veterans of World War I, and are— (1) to provide for the veterans of World War I an organization for their mutual benefit, pleasure, and amusement which will afford them opportunities and means for personal contact with each other to keep alive friendships and memories of World War I and to venerate the memory of their honored dead; (2) to cooperate to the fullest extent and in a harmonious manner with all veterans’ organizations so that the best interests of all veterans of all wars in which the United States has participated, and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans of those wars, may best be served; (3) to stimulate communities and political subdivisions into taking more interest in veterans of World War I, the widows and orphans of those deceased veterans, and the problems of those veterans and their widows and orphans; (4) to collate, preserve, and encourage the study of historical episodes, chronicles, mementos, and events pertaining to World War I; (5) to fight vigorously to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States as well as the individual States of the Union and to foster the spirit and practice of true Americanism; (6) to fight unceasingly for our national security to protect Americans from enemies within our borders, as well as those from without, so that our American way of life is preserved; (7) to fight to the utmost all those alien forces, particularly forces such as communism, whose objectives are to deny our very existence as a free people; and (8) to do any other act necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of the corporation.

36 U.S.C. § 230303 Membership

(a) Eligibility.—Eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights, privileges, and designation of classes of members are as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation. However, an individual who did not serve honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States during the period beginning April 6, 1917, and ending November 11, 1918, is not eligible for all classes of membership. (b) Voting.—Each member of the corporation (except an associate or honorary member) has one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members of the corporation except the national convention.

36 U.S.C. § 230304 Governing body

(a) National Convention.—(1) The national convention is the supreme governing authority of the corporation. (2) The national convention is composed of officers and elected representatives from the States and other local subdivisions of the corporation as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation. However, the form of government of the corporation must be representative of the membership at large and may not permit concentration of control in a limited number of members or in a self-perpetuating group not representative of the membership at large. Each elected representative is entitled to one vote at the national convention. (3) The meetings of the national convention may be held in the District of Columbia or in any State, territory, or possession of the United States. (b) Board of Administration.—(1) During the intervals between the national convention, the board of administration is the governing board of the corporation and is responsible for the general policies, program, and activities of the corporation. (2) The board shall consist of at least 7 members elected in the manner and for the term provided in the constitution and bylaws. (c) Officers.—(1) The officers of the corporation are a national commander, a national senior vice commander, a national junior vice commander, a national quartermaster, a national adjutant, a national judge advocate, 9 regional vice commanders, and other officers as provided in the constitution and bylaws. One individual may hold the offices of national quartermaster and national adjutant. (2) The titles, manner of selection, term of office, and duties of the officers are as provided in the constitution and bylaws.

36 U.S.C. § 230305 Powers

The corporation may— (1) adopt and amend a constitution and bylaws for the management of its property and the regulation of its affairs; (2) adopt and alter a corporate seal; (3) choose officers, managers, employees, and agents as the activities of the corporation require; (4) make contracts; (5) acquire, own, lease, encumber, and transfer property as necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of the corporation; (6) borrow money, issue instruments of indebtedness, and secure its obligations by granting security interests in its property; (7) sue and be sued; and (8) do any other act necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of the corporation.

36 U.S.C. § 230306 Exclusive right to name, seals, emblems, and badges

The corporation and its subordinate divisions have the exclusive right to use the name “Veterans of World War I of the United States of America, Incorporated”. The corporation has the exclusive right to use, and to allow others to use, seals, emblems, and badges the corporation adopts.

36 U.S.C. § 230307 Restrictions

(a) Stocks and Dividends.—The corporation may not issue stock or declare or pay a dividend. (b) Political Activities.—The corporation or an officer or agent as such may not contribute to, support, or assist a political party or candidate for public office. (c) Distribution of Income or Assets.—The income or assets of the corporation may not inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, an officer or member during the life of the corporation or on its dissolution or final liquidation. This subsection does not prevent the payment of compensation to an officer or reimbursement for actual necessary expenses in amounts approved by the board of administration of the corporation. (d) Loans.—The corporation may not make a loan or advance to an officer or employee. Members of the board of administration who vote for or assent to making a loan or advance to an officer or employee, and officers who participate in making the loan or advance, are jointly and severally liable to the corporation for the amount of the loan or advance until it is repaid.

36 U.S.C. § 230308 Principal office

The principal office of the corporation shall be in the District of Columbia or another place decided by the board of administration. However, the activities of the corporation are not confined to the place where the principal office is located but may be conducted in the District of Columbia and throughout the States, territories, and possessions of the United States.

36 U.S.C. § 230309 Records and inspection

(a) Records.—The corporation shall keep—(1) correct and complete records of account; and (2) minutes of the proceedings of its national convention and board of administration. (b) Inspection.—A member, or an agent or attorney of the member, may inspect the records of the corporation for any proper purpose, at any reasonable time.

36 U.S.C. § 230310 Service of process

The corporation shall have a designated agent in the District of Columbia to receive service of process for the corporation. Notice to or service on the agent, or mailed to the business address of the agent, is notice to or service on the corporation.

36 U.S.C. § 230311 Liability for acts of officers and agents

The corporation is liable for the acts of its officers and agents acting within the scope of their authority.

36 U.S.C. § 230312 Annual report

Not later than March 1 of each year, the corporation shall submit a report to Congress on the activities of the corporation during the prior fiscal year. The report may consist of a report on the proceedings of the national convention.

36 U.S.C. § 230313 Termination of existence and distribution of assets

(a) Authority To Make Contingent Provisions.—The national convention, by resolution, may declare that the corporate existence will terminate on the occurrence of a specified event and provide for the disposition of any property remaining after the discharge of all liabilities. (b) Procedure for Carrying Out Contingent Provisions.—(1) An authenticated copy of the national convention’s resolution must be filed in the office of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. (2) The court shall take jurisdiction when—(A) the declared event has occurred; and (B) a petition is filed with the court reciting the relevant facts. (3) On proof of the facts, the court shall enter an order vesting title and ownership in accordance with the resolution of the national convention.