Title 36 — Patriotic and National ObservancesRelease 119-73
§70503 Membership
Title 36 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Patriotic and National Organizations › Part Part B— - Organizations › Chapter CHAPTER 705— - THE FOUNDATION OF THE FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION › § 70503
Summary
Bylaws govern membership unless this chapter says otherwise. Anyone who joins or backs groups seeking violent overthrow of U.S. government, or who refuses to uphold and defend the Constitution, cannot serve.
Full Legal Text
Title 36, §70503
Patriotic and National Observances — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Except as provided in this chapter, eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights and privileges of members are as provided in the bylaws.
(b)An individual may not be a member, director, or officer of the corporation if the individual—
(1)is a member of, or advocates the principles of, an organization believing in, or working for, the overthrow of the United States Government by force or violence; or
(2)refuses to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 70503(a)36:576(a).Aug. 24, 1954, ch. 911, §§ 6, 16, 68 Stat. 798, 800. 70503(b)36:576(b). 70503(c)36:586. In subsection (a), the words “the persons listed in section 571 of this title” and “hereafter” are omitted as obsolete. In subsection (b), the words “has one vote” are substituted for “may cast one vote” for consistency in the revised title.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Pub. L. 119–57 added subsec. (a), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b), and struck out former subsecs. (a) and (b) which read as follows: “(a) Members.—The members of the corporation are— “(1) the members of the National Council of the Federal Bar Association, a nonprofit corporation incorporated in the District of Columbia, during their term of membership on that Council; and “(2) other individuals the corporation provides for in the bylaws or otherwise. “(b) Voting.—Each member has one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the members.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
36 U.S.C. § 70503
Title 36 — Patriotic and National Observances
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73