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Title 36 — Patriotic and National ObservancesRelease 119-73

§300103 Membership and chapters

Title 36 › Subtitle Subtitle III— - Treaty Obligation Organizations › Chapter CHAPTER 3001— - THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS › § 300103

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Anyone in the United States, its territories, or possessions can join if they pay the amount or follow the rules set in the bylaws. Local groups are called chapters. The corporation must make rules about giving or taking away a chapter’s charter, where chapters operate, how they relate to the main group, and making sure chapters follow the rules. Those rules must require chapters to use the democratic election methods in the bylaws when choosing leaders and delegates to the annual meeting.

Full Legal Text

Title 36, §300103

Patriotic and National Observances — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Membership in the corporation is open to all the people of the United States and its territories and possessions, on payment of an amount specified, or as otherwise provided, in the bylaws.
(b)(1)The chapters of the corporation are the local units of the corporation. The corporation shall prescribe policies and regulations related to—
(A)granting charters to the chapters and revoking those charters;
(B)the territorial jurisdiction of the chapters;
(C)the relationship of the chapters to the corporation; and
(D)compliance by the chapters with the policies and regulations of the corporation.
(2)The policies and regulations shall require that each chapter adhere to the democratic principles of election specified in the bylaws in electing the governing body of the chapter and selecting delegates to the annual meeting of the corporation.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 300103(a)36:4a (1st par.).Jan. 5, 1905, ch. 23, § 4a, as added May 8, 1947, ch. 50, § 5, 61 Stat. 81. 300103(b)36:4a (last par.). In subsection (a), the word “possessions” is substituted for “dependencies” for clarity and consistency in the revised title. The words “from time to time” are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (b)(1), before clause (A), the words “within the States and Territories of the United States” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “The board of governors shall prescribe

Regulations

related to” are substituted for “The

Regulations

with respect to . . . shall be as determined from time to time by the Board of Governors” for consistency in the revised title. In clause (D), the word “

Regulations

” is substituted for “rules” for clarity and consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2007—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–26, § 5(1), inserted “, or as otherwise provided,” before “in the bylaws”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 110–26, § 5(2), in introductory provisions, substituted “corporation shall” for “board of governors shall” and inserted “policies and” before “

Regulations

related”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 110–26, § 5(3), inserted “policies and” before “

Regulations

shall require” and substituted “annual meeting” for “national convention”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

36 U.S.C. § 300103

Title 36 — Patriotic and National Observances

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73