Title 36, Patriotic and National ObservancesRelease 119-110

§70703 Governing Body

Title 36 › Subtitle II — Patriotic and National Organizations › Part B — Organizations › CHAPTER 707 — FREDERICK DOUGLASS MEMORIAL AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION › § 70703

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The board of trustees governs the corporation and uses its powers. It must have 9 to 19 members; if a seat is open, the other trustees pick who fills it. The board must have an official seal. It elects needed officers, including a treasurer, sets their term and pay, requires a treasurer’s bond, and may remove staff—all as the bylaws provide.

Full Legal Text

Title 36, §70703

Patriotic and National Observances, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Board of Trustees.—
(1)The board of trustees is the governing body of the corporation. The board shall exercise the powers granted to the corporation.
(2)The board shall consist of at least 9 but not more than 19 members. A vacancy on the board shall be filled by decision of the remaining members of the board.
(3)The board shall adopt a seal under which all acts of the corporation shall be passed and authenticated.
(b)Officers.—
(1)The board shall elect officers the board considers necessary, including a treasurer, for the term and at the compensation the board decides, as provided in the bylaws.
(2)The treasurer shall give a bond as provided in the bylaws.
(3)The board may remove an officer, employee, or agent of the corporation for a cause provided in the bylaws.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 70703(a)(1), (2)36:4404 (1st–3d sentences).June 6, 1900, ch. 806, § 4 (1st–3d sentences, 4th sentence less adopting and altering seal, 5th sentence less establishing bylaws, last sentence less employment authority), 31 Stat. 663; Nov. 9, 1988, Pub. L. 100–642, § 1(a), 102 Stat. 3337. 70703(a)(3)36:4404 (4th sentence less adopting and altering seal). 70703(b)(1)36:4404 (5th sentence less establishing bylaws). 70703(b)(2), (3)36:4404 (last sentence less employment authority). In subsection (a)(1), the words “The board of trustees is the governing body of the corporation” are substituted for “The government of said association shall be vested in a board of trustees” for consistency in the revised title. The words “The board shall exercise the powers granted to the corporation” are substituted for “Said board of trustees shall have perpetual succession, and in them and their successors shall be vested the power hereinbefore granted to this association” to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (a)(2), the words “who shall be elected by the corporators at their first meeting or at such time thereafter as the said corporators may at the said first meeting appoint for that purpose” are omitted as obsolete. The words “A vacancy on the board shall be filled by decision of the remaining members of the board” are substituted for “In case of a vacancy or vacancies occurring in said board of trustees by death, resignation, or otherwise, the same shall be filled by the remaining members thereof” for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (a)(3), the word “common” is omitted as unnecessary. Subsection (b)(3) is substituted for “and all of the officers of the association, together with such agents and employees . . . , shall be subject to removal for such causes and under such conditions and

Regulations

as may be prescribed by the by-laws” for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

36 U.S.C. § 70703

Title 36, Patriotic and National Observances

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110