Title 36, Patriotic and National ObservancesRelease 119-102
§21702 Purposes
Title 36 › Subtitle II — Patriotic and National Organizations › Part B — Organizations › CHAPTER 217 — THE AMERICAN LEGION › § 21702
Summary
Require the corporation to protect the Constitution, promote peace and goodwill, remember the 2 World Wars and other major fights for democracy, and commit members to comradeship, mutual help, and national service.
Full Legal Text
Title 36, §21702
Patriotic and National Observances, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The purposes of the corporation are—
(1)to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States;
(2)to promote peace and good will among the peoples of the United States and all the nations of the Earth;
(3)to preserve the memories and incidents of the 2 World Wars and the other great hostilities fought to uphold democracy;
(4)to cement the ties and comradeship born of service; and
(5)to consecrate the efforts of its members to mutual helpfulness and service to their country.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2170236:43.Sept. 16, 1919, ch. 59, § 3, 41 Stat. 285; Oct. 29, 1942, ch. 633, § 1, 56 Stat. 1012; July 26, 1955, ch. 386, § 1, 69 Stat. 379; Sept. 1, 1966, Pub. L. 89–550, § 1, 80 Stat. 371. In clause (1), the words “of America” are omitted.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
36 U.S.C. § 21702
Title 36, Patriotic and National Observances
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102