Title 36Patriotic and National ObservancesRelease 119-73

§22704 Governing body

Title 36 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Patriotic and National Organizations › Part Part B— - Organizations › Chapter CHAPTER 227— - AMVETS (AMERICAN VETERANS) › § 22704

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Each post can choose delegates to attend the corporation’s national conventions. Each delegate gets one vote on convention business. The executive committee includes one representative elected from every department and all the officers because of their offices. The officers are a national commander; two national vice commanders; a finance officer; a judge advocate; a chaplain; six national district commanders; and a provost marshal. Delegates at the annual national convention elect the officers. Rules for holding office must not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Full Legal Text

Title 36, §22704

Patriotic and National Observances — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Each post may elect delegates to national conventions of the corporation. The delegates each have one vote in the conduct of business of the convention to which they are elected.
(b)The executive committee of the corporation consists of—
(1)one member elected to represent each department; and
(2)the officers of the corporation as ex officio members.
(c)(1)The officers of the corporation are a national commander, two national vice commanders, a finance officer, a judge advocate, a chaplain, six national district commanders, and a provost marshal.
(2)The officers shall be elected by the delegates at the annual national convention.
(d)The requirements for holding office in the corporation may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 22704(a)36:67f(1) (last sentence).July 23, 1947, ch. 298, §§ 5(3), 7(1) (last sentence), (2), 13, 61 Stat. 406, 407, 408. 22704(b)36:67d(3).36:67f(2). 22704(c)36:67l. 22704(d)36:67e (words after 3d comma related to discrimination in holding office).July 23, 1947, ch. 298, § 6 (words after 3d comma related to discrimination in holding office), 61 Stat. 407; Dec. 28, 1950, ch. 1178, 64 Stat. 1122; July 26, 1955, ch. 383, 69 Stat. 375; Sept. 14, 1966, Pub. L. 89–576, 80 Stat. 772; Aug. 15, 1977, Pub. L. 95–98, § 1(b)(2), 91 Stat. 830; May 31, 1984, Pub. L. 98–304, 98 Stat. 220. In subsection (b), the text of 36:67d(3) is omitted as obsolete. In subsection (c), the words “each official delegate casting one vote” are omitted as unnecessary because of subsection (a) of this section.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–241 substituted “two national vice commanders, a finance officer, a judge advocate, a chaplain, six national district commanders,” for “seven national vice commanders, one of whom shall be a woman, a finance officer, an adjutant, a judge advocate,”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

36 U.S.C. § 22704

Title 36Patriotic and National Observances

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73