Federal Charter

This information was obtained from the House of Representatives WWW server on October 24, 2000. If you are using it for legal research, we urge you to verify your results with the printed U.S. Code available through the U.S. Government Printing Office.

The United States Code is the official, subject matter order, compilation of the Federal laws of a general and permanent nature that are currently in force. The Code is compiled by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the United States House of Representatives. The Code is divided into 50 titles by subject matter. Each title is divided into sections. Sections within a title may be grouped together as subtitles, chapters, subchapters, parts, subparts, or divisions. Titles may also have appendices which may be divided into sections, rules and/or forms. We cite here sections from the U.S. Code Title 36.

Excerpts from the Federal Charter

The full charter can be found at the U.S. House of Representatives.
Enter Title 36, Chapter 309 in the Search page

---

United States Code

TITLE 36 - PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS

Subtitle II - Patriotic and National Organizations

Part B - Organizations

CHAPTER 309 - BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

30901. Organization.
30902. Purposes.
30903. Governing body.
30904. Powers.
30905. Exclusive right to emblems, badges, marks, and words.
30906. Restrictions.
30907. Annual and special meetings.
30908. Annual report.

Sec. 30901. Organization

1. Federal Charter. - Boy Scouts of America (in this chapter, the ''corporation'') is a body corporate and politic of the District of Columbia.
2. Domicile. - The domicile of the corporation is the District of Columbia.
3. Perpetual Existence. - Except as otherwise provided, the corporation has perpetual existence.

Sec. 30902. Purposes

The purposes of the corporation are to promote, through organization, and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods that were in common use by boy scouts on June 15, 1916.

Sec. 30903. Governing body

1. Executive Board. - An executive board composed of citizens of the United States is the governing body of the corporation. The number, qualifications, and term of office of members of the board are as provided in the bylaws. A vacancy on the board shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the board.
2. Quorum. - The bylaws may prescribe the number of members of the board necessary for a quorum. That number may be less than a majority of the entire board.
3. Committees. -
   1. The board, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire board, may designate 3 or more members of the board as an executive or governing committee. A majority of the committee is a quorum. The committee, to the extent provided in the resolution or bylaws, may -
      1. exercise the powers of the executive board in managing the activities of the corporation; and
      2. authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to papers that may require it.
   2. The board, by majority vote of the entire board, may appoint other standing committees. The standing committees may exercise powers as provided in the bylaws.

Sec. 30904. Powers

1. General. - The corporation may -
   1. adopt and amend bylaws and regulations, including regulations for the election of associates and successors;
   2. adopt and alter a corporate seal;
   3. have offices and conduct its activities in the District of Columbia and the States, territories, and possessions of the United States;
   4. acquire and own property as necessary to carry out the purposes of the corporation;
   5. sue and be sued within the jurisdiction of the United States; and
   6. do any other act necessary to carry out this chapter and promote the purpose of the corporation.
2. Limitations on Exercising Certain Powers. -
   1. The corporation may execute mortgages and liens on the property of the corporation only if approved by a two-thirds vote of the entire executive board at a meeting called for that purpose.
   2. The corporation may dispose in any manner of the whole property of the corporation only with the written consent and affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the corporation.

Sec. 30905. Exclusive right to emblems, badges, marks, and words

The corporation has the exclusive right to use emblems, badges, descriptive or designating marks, and words or phrases the corporation adopts. This section does not affect any vested rights.

Sec. 30906. Restrictions

1. Profit. - The corporation may not operate for pecuniary profit to its members.
2. Stocks and Dividends. - The corporation may not issue stock or declare or pay a dividend.

Sec. 30907. Annual and special meetings

1. Annual Meetings. - The corporation shall hold an annual meeting at a time and place as provided in the bylaws. At the meeting, the annual reports of the officers and executive board shall be presented, and members of the board shall be elected for the next year.
2. Special Meetings. - Special meetings of the corporation may be called on notice as provided in the bylaws.
3. Quorum. - The number of members necessary for a quorum at an annual or special meeting shall be prescribed in the bylaws.
4. Locations. - The members and the executive board may hold meetings and keep the seal and records of the corporation in or outside the District of Columbia.

Sec. 30908. Annual report

Not later than April 1 of each year, the corporation shall submit a report to Congress on the activities of the corporation during the prior calendar year.

Approved June 15, 1916

NOTE: Chapter 309, Sections 30901-30908 was formerly Chapter 2, Sections 21-28.