USC Chapter 2003

in effect

36 U.S.C. § 200301 Organization

(a) Federal Charter.—Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (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. § 200302 Purposes

The purposes of the corporation are— (1) to perpetuate the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the men who saved the Union in 1861 to 1865; (2) to assist in every practicable way in preserving, and making available for research, documents and records pertaining to the Grand Army of the Republic and its members; (3) to cooperate in honoring all those who have served our country patriotically in any war; (4) to teach patriotism, the duties of citizenship, the true history of our country, and the love and honor of our flag; (5) to oppose every tendency or movement that would weaken loyalty to, destroy, or impair our constitutional Union; and (6) to inculcate and broadly sustain the American principles of representative government, equal rights, and impartial justice for all.

36 U.S.C. § 200303 Membership

(a) General.—Except as provided in this chapter, 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. (b) Required Service.—Eligibility for membership in the corporation is limited to male blood relatives of an individual who—(1) served at any time during the period from April 12, 1861, through April 9, 1865, as a soldier or sailor in—(A) the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Revenue-Cutter Service; or (B) a State regiment that was called into active service and was subject to orders of United States general officers during that period; and (2) was discharged honorably from, or died in, that service.

36 U.S.C. § 200304 Governing body

(a) National Encampment.—(1) The national encampment is the supreme governing authority of the corporation. (2) The national encampment is composed of officers and elected representatives from the States and other local subdivisions of the corporation as provided in the constitution and bylaws. 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. (3) The meetings of the national encampment may be held in the District of Columbia or in any State, territory, or possession of the United States. (b) Council of Administration.—(1) During the intervals between the national encampments, the council of administration is the governing board of the corporation and is responsible for the general policies, program, and activities of the corporation. (2) The council of administration shall consist of at least seven 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 commander in chief, a senior vice commander in chief, a junior vice commander in chief, a secretary, a treasurer, and other officers as provided in the constitution and bylaws. One individual may hold the offices of secretary and treasurer. (2) The manner of selection, term of office, and duties of the officers are as provided in the constitution and bylaws.

36 U.S.C. § 200305 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, agents, and employees 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. § 200306 Exclusive right to name, seals, emblems, and badges

The corporation and its subordinate divisions have the exclusive right to use the name “Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War”. 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. § 200307 Restrictions

(a) Stock 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 council of administration of the corporation. (d) Loans.—The corporation may not make a loan or advance to an officer or employee. Members of the council 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. § 200308 Principal office

The principal office of the corporation shall be in Trenton, New Jersey, or another place decided by the council 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. § 200309 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 encampments and council 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. § 200310 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. § 200311 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. § 200312 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 encampment. The report may not be printed as a public document.

36 U.S.C. § 200313 Distribution of assets on dissolution or final liquidation

On dissolution or final liquidation of the corporation, any assets remaining after the discharge of all liabilities shall be distributed as provided by the council of administration, but in compliance with the constitution and bylaws of the corporation.