Title 36Patriotic and National ObservancesRelease 119-73

§150302 Powers

Title 36 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Patriotic and National Organizations › Part Part B— - Organizations › Chapter CHAPTER 1503— - NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES › § 150302

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The corporation may make its own rules and set up its organization. It can elect U.S. and foreign members, sort them into classes, fill vacancies, and report those actions to Congress. It may accept property by will, gift, or other means; own it outright or hold it in trust; manage and invest it under its rules; and use the property and any income for its purposes while following donor instructions. Congress may at any time limit how much real estate it can acquire and how long it may keep it.

Full Legal Text

Title 36, §150302

Patriotic and National Observances — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The corporation may—
(1)make its own organization, including adopting a constitution, bylaws, and regulations;
(2)provide for the election of domestic and foreign members, their division into classes, and other matters needful or usual in such an institution;
(3)fill vacancies; and
(4)report its actions under this subsection to Congress.
(b)(1)The corporation may—
(A)receive property by devise, bequest, donation, or otherwise;
(B)hold the property absolutely or in trust;
(C)manage and invest the property as provided in the constitution of the corporation; and
(D)use the property and income from the property to carry out the purposes of the corporation, subject to instructions of donors.
(2)Congress at any time may limit the amount of real estate the corporation may acquire and the amount of time it may be held.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 150302(a)36:252.Mar. 3, 1863, ch. 111, § 2, 12 Stat. 806; July 14, 1870, ch. 264, 16 Stat. 277. 150302(b)36:254.June 20, 1884, ch. 107, 23 Stat. 50; May 27, 1914, ch. 101, § 1, 38 Stat. 383. In subsection (a)(1), the word “rules” is omitted as included in “

Regulations

”. In subsection (a)(2), the words “their division” are substituted for “the division” for clarity. In subsection (a)(3), the words “created by death, resignation, or otherwise” are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (a)(4), the words “its actions under this subsection” are substituted for “the same” for clarity. In subsection (b)(1), before clause (A), the word “may” is substituted for “be, and the same is, authorized and empowered to” for consistency in the revised title and to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (A), the words “either real or personal” are omitted as unnecessary and for consistency in the revised title. In clause (C), the word “reinvest” is omitted as unnecessary.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

36 U.S.C. § 150302

Title 36Patriotic and National Observances

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73