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                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.2



                                     BY-LAWS

                                       OF

                               LAFARGE CORPORATION

                           As amended October 15, 1999



                                    ARTICLE I

                                  STOCKHOLDERS

       SECTION 1.01. Annual Meetings. The Corporation shall hold each year an
annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and the
transaction of any other business within the powers of the Corporation. Annual
meetings of stockholders shall be held on such day during the period April l5th
to May 14th of each calendar year as shall be designated by the Board of
Directors and at a time stated in the notice of meeting. Any business of the
Corporation may be considered at an annual meeting without the purpose of such
business being specified in the notice, except such business as is specifically
required by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation to be specified in the
notice. Failure to hold an annual meeting at the designated time shall not,
however, invalidate the corporate existence or affect any otherwise valid
corporate acts.

      SECTION 1.02. Special Meetings. At any time in the interval between annual
meetings, special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the Chairman of
the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief Executive
Officer, a majority of the Board of Directors or by any other person specified
in the Charter. Special meetings of the stockholders shall also be called by the
Secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least
twenty-five per cent (25%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting;
provided, however, that a special meeting need not be called to consider any
matter which is substantially the same as a matter voted on at any special
meeting of the stockholders held during the preceding twelve (12) months, unless
a meeting is requested by

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stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at
such meeting. In any case in which a special meeting is called by written
request of the stockholders, such request shall state the purpose of the meeting
and the matters proposed to be acted on at it.

      SECTION 1.03. Place of Meetings. Except as limited by statute, all
meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place within or without the State
of Maryland as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors
and stated in the notice of meeting.

      SECTION 1.04. Notice of Meetings. Except as provided below, not less than
ten (10) days nor more than ninety (90) days before the date of every
stockholders' meeting, the Secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to
vote at such meeting, and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is
entitled by statute to notice, written or printed notice stating the time and
place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or if otherwise
required by statute, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called,
either by mailing it to him at his address as it appears on the records of the
corporation or by delivering it to him personally or by leaving it at his
residence or usual place of business. If a special meeting is called by the
stockholders, the Secretary shall inform the stockholders who make the request
of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing a notice of the
meeting, and on payment of these costs to the Corporation shall notify each
stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be
deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the
stockholder at his post office address as it appears on the records of the
Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions, a written waiver of any required notice regarding any stockholder
meeting, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before
or after the holding thereof, and filed with the records of the meeting, or by
actual attendance at the meeting in person or by proxy, shall be deemed
equivalent to the giving of such notice to such person.

      SECTION 1.05. Conduct of Meetings. Meetings of stockholders shall be
presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or, if he is not

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present, by the Vice Chairman of the Board, or, if he is not present, by the
President and Chief Executive Officer, or, if he is not present, by a Vice
President, or, if none of said officers is present, by a chairman to be elected
at the meeting. The Secretary or, if he is not present, any Assistant Secretary,
shall act as secretary of such meetings; in the absence of the Secretary and any
Assistant Secretary, the presiding officer may appoint a person to act as
secretary of the meeting.

      SECTION 1.06. Quorum. Unless otherwise provided in the Charter, at any
meeting of stockholders the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders
entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast thereat shall
constitute a quorum; but this Section shall not affect any requirement under
statute or under the Charter for the vote necessary for the adoption of any
measure. In the absence of a quorum, the stockholders present in person or by
proxy, by majority vote and without notice other than by announcement, may
adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall attend. At any such
adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at any meeting as originally
notified. In the event that at any meeting a quorum exists for the transaction
of some business, but does not exist for the transaction of other business, the
business as to which a quorum is present may be transacted by the holders of
stock present in person or by proxy who are entitled to vote thereon. Any
meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to
reconvene at the same or some other place at a date not to exceed more than 120
days after the original record date, and no notice need be given of any such
adjourned meeting other than by announcement.

      SECTION 1.07. Proxies. A stockholder may vote the shares owned of record
by him either in person or by a written proxy signed by the stockholder or by
his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11)
months from its date, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. A proxy need not
be sealed, witnessed or acknowledged.

      SECTION 1.08. Votes Required. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of
stockholders, duly called and at which a quorum is present, shall be sufficient
to take or authorize action upon any matter which may properly come before the
meeting, unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter.

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Unless the Charter provides for a greater or lesser number of votes per share or
limits or denies voting rights, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of
class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a
meeting of stockholders.

      SECTION 1.09. Voting. In all elections for directors every stockholder
shall have the right to vote, in person or by proxy, each share of stock owned
of record by him, for as many persons as there are directors to be elected and
for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. At all meetings of
stockholders, unless the voting is conducted by inspectors, the proxies and
ballots shall be received, and all questions touching the qualification of the
voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes
shall be decided by the chairman of the meeting. If demanded by a stockholder or
stockholders, present at a meeting, in person or by proxy, entitled to cast ten
per cent (10%) of the votes entitled to be cast thereat, or if ordered by the
chairman, the vote upon any election or question shall be taken by ballot and,
upon like demand or order, the voting shall be conducted by two inspectors, in
which event the proxies and ballots shall be received, and all questions
touching the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the
acceptance or rejection of votes, shall be decided by such inspectors. Unless so
demanded or ordered, no vote need be by ballot and voting need not be conducted
by inspectors. If inspections are demanded by the stockholders or ordered by the
chairman, the stockholders at any meeting may choose an inspector or inspectors
to act at such meeting, and in default of such election the chairman of the
meeting shall appoint such inspector or inspectors. No candidate for election as
a director at a meeting shall serve as an inspector thereat.

      SECTION 1.10. Informal Action by Stockholders. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a
meeting if there is filed with the minutes of proceedings of stockholders a
unanimous written consent which sets forth the action and is signed by each
stockholder entitled to vote on the matter; and a written waiver of any right to
dissent signed by each stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting, but not
entitled to vote at it.

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      SECTION 1.11. Voting Rights of Certain Control Shares. Notwithstanding any
other provision of the Charter of the Corporation or these By-laws, Title 3,
Subtitle 7 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (or any successor statute) shall not apply to any acquisition by any
person of shares of stock of the Corporation. This Section may be repealed, in
whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control
shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor
by-law, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.

                                  ARTICLE II
                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS

      SECTION 2.01. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
managed under the direction of its Board of Directors. All powers of the
Corporation may be exercised by or under authority of the Board of Directors,
except as conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders by statute, the Charter
or the By-Laws.

      SECTION 2.02. Number of Directors. The number of directors of the
Corporation which shall constitute the whole Board shall be sixteen (16). By
vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, the number of directors
fixed by the Charter or by the By-Laws may be increased or decreased, from time
to time, not to exceed seventeen (17) nor to be less than three (3) directors,
but the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in
the number of directors so made by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders
in the Corporation or residents of the State of Maryland.

      SECTION 2.03. Election of Directors. At each annual meeting, the
stockholders shall elect directors to hold office until the next succeeding
annual meeting or until their successors are elected and qualify. At any meeting
of stockholders, duly called and at which a quorum is present, the stockholders
may, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes entitled
to be cast thereon, remove any director or directors from office, except as
otherwise provided by statute, and may elect a successor or successors to fill
any resulting vacancies for the unexpired terms of the removed directors. In
case

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such a removal occurs but the stockholders entitled to vote thereon fail to fill
any resulting vacancies, such vacancies may be filled by the Board of Directors
pursuant to Section 2.04. Any director may resign at any time upon written
notice to the Corporation.

      SECTION 2.04. Vacancies. Subject to Section 2.03, any vacancy occurring in
the Board of Directors for any cause other than by reason of an increase in the
number of directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining members of the
Board of Directors, although such majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy
occurring by reason of an increase in the number of directors may be filled by
action of a majority of the entire Board of Directors as constituted prior to
such increase. A director elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy
shall be elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of the
stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualifies.

      SECTION 2.05. Regular Meetings. After each meeting of stockholders at
which a Board of Directors shall have been elected, the Board of Directors so
elected shall meet as soon as practicable for the purpose of organization and
the transaction of other business; and in the event that no other time is
designated by the stockholders, the Board of Directors shall meet promptly
following the close of such meeting on the day of such meeting. Such first
meeting shall be held at such place within or without the State of Maryland as
may be designated by the stockholders, or in default of such designation at the
place designated by the Board of Directors for such first regular meeting, or in
default of such designation at the place of the holding of the immediately
preceding annual meeting of stockholders. No notice of such first meeting shall
be necessary if held as hereinabove provided. Other regular meetings of the
Board of Directors may be held on such dates and at such places within or
without the State of Maryland as may be designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors and no additional notice of such regular meetings shall be
required.

      SECTION 2.06. Special Meetings. Special Meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, by the President and
Chief Executive Officer, or by a majority of the Board of Directors by vote at a
meeting, or in writing with or without a meeting. Such special

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meetings shall be held at such place or places within or without the State of
Maryland as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

      SECTION 2.07. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the place, day and hour of
every special meeting shall be given to each director at least forty-eight (48)
hours before the time of the meeting, by delivering the same to him personally,
by telephone, by telegraph, or by delivering the same at his residence or usual
place of business, or, in the alternative, by mailing such notice no later than
the seventh day preceding the day upon which the meeting is to be held, postage
paid, and addressed to him at his last known post office address, according to
the records of the Corporation; provided, however, that if the person calling
the meeting is of the opinion that the matters to be considered thereat involve
an emergency, notice of such meeting shall be given by such means and within
such time preceding the time at which the meeting is to be held as the person
calling the meeting shall in his discretion deem reasonable and appropriate
under the circumstances. Unless required by a resolution of the Board of
Directors, no notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors and no waiver of
notice of any such meeting need state the business to be transacted thereat. No
notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors need be given to any director
who attends such meeting, or to any director who signs a waiver of notice of
such meeting, either before or after the holding thereof, and such waiver is
filed with the records of the meeting. Any meeting of the Board of Directors,
regular or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or
some other place, and no notice need be given of any such adjourned meeting
other than by announcement.

      SECTION 2.08. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a
majority of the entire Board of Directors, but in no event fewer than two (2)
directors, shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided by statute, by the Charter
or by the By-Laws, the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present
at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary to elect and pass
any measure. In the absence of a quorum, the directors present by majority vote
and without notice other than by announcement may adjourn the

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meeting from time to time until a quorum shall attend. At any such adjourned
meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which
might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

      SECTION 2.09. Compensation. The Board of Directors may provide for the
payment to directors of stated amounts annually for services incident to serving
as directors and committee members, or in the alternative, a fixed sum for
attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or committees thereof,
Directors shall be reimbursed by the Corporation for reasonable expenses
incurred in attending such meetings. Except as otherwise provided by the Board
of Directors, the receipt of amounts or sums authorized hereby shall not
preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and
receiving compensation therefor.

      SECTION 2.10. Informal Action by Directors. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any
committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if a unanimous written consent
which sets forth such action is signed by all members of the Board of Directors
or of such committee, as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with
the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

      SECTION 2.11. Telephone Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors may
participate in a meeting of such Board by means of a conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other at the same time, and participation by such
means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                   COMMITTEES

      SECTION 3.01. Committees. The Board of Directors may appoint from among
the directors an Executive Committee and such other committees, to consist of
such numbers of directors, not less than two, as the Board of Directors may from
time to time determine. The Board of Directors shall have power at any time to
remove any members of the Executive Committee and of each other committee and

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to fill vacancies therein. When the Board of Directors is not in session, the
Executive Committee shall have and may exercise, in the absence of or subject to
any restrictions which the Board of Directors may from time to time impose, all
of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation, except the power to declare dividends or
distributions on stock, to issue stock (except as provided by statute), to
recommend to stockholders any action requiring stockholders' approval, to amend
the By-Laws, or to approve any merger or share exchange which does not require
stockholder approval. Other committees shall have such powers, subject to
applicable law, as shall be designated by the Board of Directors from time to
time.

        SECTION 3.02. Advisory Committees. The Board of Directors may designate
such advisory committees from time to time as the Board of Directors, in its
discretion, deems necessary and proper, to perform such duties as may be
determined by the Board of Directors at the time of their designation or as may
be modified thereafter by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee;
provided, however, that any such advisory committee or committees shall have and
may exercise only the power to recommend action to the Board of Directors or the
Executive Committee. Each advisory committee shall consist of two or more
individuals (with such alternates, if any, as may be deemed desirable) selected
by the Board of Directors, who may but need not be members of the Board of
Directors.

      SECTION 3.03. Committee Meetings. Meetings of any committee of directors
or advisory committee may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or by any member of the
committee and may be held at any office of the Corporation or elsewhere, as
specified in the notice or waiver of notice of the meeting, upon not less than
twenty-four (24) hours notice by telephone or telegram (notice by telegram shall
be deemed given upon delivery to the telegraph company), upon notice by mail if
such notice is mailed postage prepaid not later than the second day preceding
the day upon which the meeting is to be held, or upon written waiver of notice
given before or after the meeting; provided, however, that if the person calling
the meeting is of the opinion that the matters to be considered thereat involve
an emergency, notice of the meeting shall be

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given to each member by such means and within such time preceding the time the
meeting is to be held as the person calling the meeting shall in his discretion
deem reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances. Notice of any meeting
may be given by the Chairman of the Board or the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation, by any member of the committee or by the secretary
of the committee. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of,
any meeting of a committee need be specified in the notice or the waiver of
notice of such meeting. Members of any committee may participate in a meeting of
the committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other, and participation in a meeting through such means shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken
at any meeting of a committee may be taken without a meeting if all members of
the committee consent thereto in writing filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the committee. A majority of a committee shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business, and in the event a quorum is not present
at any meeting the member or members present may adjourn the meeting from time
to time without further notice until a quorum is present. Each committee shall
designate one of its members as chairman (except that the Chairman of the Board
of the Corporation shall act as Chairman of the Executive Committee) and shall
appoint a secretary (who need not be a member of the committee), who shall keep
minutes of its meetings. As soon as practicable, the minutes of each meeting and
any writing evidencing action by unanimous consent shall be submitted to the
Board of Directors, with or without a report, as such committee may deem
appropriate.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                    OFFICERS

      SECTION 4.01. Elected Officers. The elected officers of the Corporation
shall be a Chairman of the Board; a Vice Chairman of the Board; a President and
Chief Executive Officer; one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more
Senior Vice Presidents and one or more Vice Presidents as may be determined by
the Board of Directors; a Secretary; a Treasurer; and a Controller.

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      SECTION 4.02. Election. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after
each annual meeting of stockholders shall elect a Chairman of the Board from
among its members, and a Vice Chairman of the Board, a President and Chief
Executive Officer, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more Senior
Vice Presidents, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a
Controller, none of whom need be a member of the Board. With the exception of
the President and Chief Executive Officer, who may not serve concurrently as a
Vice President, any officer may hold more than one office. A person who holds
more than one office in the Corporation may not act in more than one capacity to
execute, acknowledge or verify an instrument required by law to be executed,
acknowledged or verified by more than one officer.

        SECTION 4.03. Appointed Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint
such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary who shall hold their
offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as
shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

      SECTION 4.04. Compensation. The salaries of all officers and agents of the
Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, except to the extent that
the authority to fix such salaries has been delegated by the Board of Directors
to designated officers of the Corporation.

      SECTION 4.05. Term of Office. Except as may be otherwise provided by the
Board of Directors or in the By-Laws, each officer of the Corporation shall hold
office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the next annual
meeting of stockholders following his election or appointment and until his
successor is chosen and qualifies. Any officer or agent elected or appointed by
the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by an action of the Board of
Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be
filled by the Board of Directors.

      SECTION 4.06. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall
preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the stockholders. He shall
have and exercise such powers as are, from time to time, assigned to him by the
Board of Directors.

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      SECTION 4.07. Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board
shall, in the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board, perform the
duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman of the Board and perform such
other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time
to time prescribe.

      SECTION 4.08. President and Chief Executive Officer. The President and
Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation
and shall report to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, shall
have and exercise general and active management of the business and affairs of
the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of
Directors and the Executive Committee are carried into effect.

      SECTION 4.09. The Vice Presidents. The Executive Vice Presidents, the
Senior Vice Presidents and the Vice Presidents shall, in the absence or
disability of the President and Chief Executive Officer and in the order
determined by the Board of Directors, perform the duties and exercise the powers
of the President and Chief Executive Officer and shall perform such other duties
and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time
prescribe.

      SECTION 4.10. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall
attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and
all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings
of the Corporation and of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee in
a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the
standing committees, if any. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all
meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and
shall perform all of the duties incident to the office of secretary of a
corporation and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors
or the President and Chief Executive Officer under whose supervision he shall
be. He shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and he, or an
Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument
requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his signature or by the
signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general
authority to any other officer to

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affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his signature.
The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries
in the order determined by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or
disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
Secretary, shall generally assist the Secretary and shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the President and Chief Executive Officer
or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe.

      SECTION 4.11. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall
have charge of and be responsible for the collection, receipt, custody and
disbursement of corporate funds and securities. Subject to the supervision and
direction of the President and Chief Executive Officer or such Vice President or
other officer as shall be designated as the Chief Financial Officer of the
Corporation, he shall be responsible for: (a) carrying out policies with respect
to the approving, granting or extending of credit by the Corporation, (b) the
preparation and filing of all income tax returns and all other regular and
special reports to governmental agencies, and (c) the maintenance of adequate
records of authorized appropriations and the determination that all sums
expended pursuant thereto are accounted for properly. In general, the Treasurer
shall perform the duties incident to the office of treasurer of a corporation
and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board
of Directors, the President and Chief Executive Officer or by such Vice
President or other officer as shall be designated as the Chief Financial Officer
of the Corporation. In the absence or disability of the Treasurer or in the
event the office of Treasurer is or becomes vacant for any reason, the duties of
the Treasurer shall be performed by the Assistant Treasurers in the order
designated by the Board of Directors or in the absence of any designation then
in the order of their election, unless otherwise determined by the Board of
Directors. Each Assistant Treasurer shall generally assist the Treasurer and
shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the President and
Chief Executive Officer or the Treasurer may from time to time prescribe.

      SECTION 4.12. Delegation of Duties of Officers. In case of the absence of
any officer of the Corporation, or for any other reason that the Board of
Directors may deem sufficient, the Board of

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Directors may delegate, for the time being, the powers or duties, or any of
them, of such officer to any other officer, or to any director, provided that a
majority of the entire Board of Directors shall concur therein.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                      STOCK

      SECTION 5.01. Certificates of Stock. The certificates of stock of the
Corporation shall be numbered and shall be entered in the books of the
Corporation as they are issued. Each stock certificate shall include on its face
the name of the Corporation, the name of the stockholder or other person to whom
it is issued, the class of stock and the number of shares represented thereby
and shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief
Executive Officer or a Vice President and countersigned by the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or by a
facsimile or facsimiles of the signatures of any of such officers, and sealed
with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile of such seal. If any certificate
is signed (1) by a transfer agent other than the Corporation or its employee, or
(2) by a registrar other than the Corporation or its employee, any other
signature on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer
agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed
upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or
registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation
with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at
the date of issue.

      SECTION 5.02. Transfers of Stock. Transfers of stock shall be made on the
books of the Corporation upon the surrender to the Corporation or a transfer
agent of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper
evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, and the Corporation
shall thereupon issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. The Board of
Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars for
any one or more classes of the capital stock of the Corporation.


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      SECTION 5.03. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled
to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in
fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or
other claim to, or interest in, such shares in the name of any other person,
whether or not it shall have express or other notice hereof, except as expressly
provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.

      SECTION 5.04. Record Dates. The Board of Directors is hereby empowered to
fix, in advance, a date as the record date for the purpose of determining
stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of stockholders,
or stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of
any rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other
proper purpose. Except as otherwise provided by statute, such date shall not be
prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed, and in any
case shall be not more than ninety (90) days, and in case of a meeting of
stockholders, not less than ten (10) days, prior to the date on which the
particular action, requiring such determination of stockholders, is to be taken.
In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may provide that the
stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in
any case, twenty (20) days. If the stock transfer books are closed for the
purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days
immediately preceding such meeting.

      SECTION 5.05. Stock Ledgers. Original or duplicate stock ledgers,
containing the name and address of each stockholder of the Corporation and the
number of shares of each class held by each stockholder, shall be kept at the
principal executive office of the Corporation.

      SECTION 5.06. Lost Certificates. A new certificate or certificates for
shares of stock of the Corporation may, upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the person claiming a certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or
destroyed, be issued in such manner and under such conditions as the Board of
Directors may at any time or from time to time prescribe, to replace the
certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, provided that the
Board of Directors may, in its discretion, require the owner of

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<PAGE>   16

any such certificate, or his legal representatives, to give the Corporation a
bond, with sufficient surety to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that
may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of
any such certificate or the issuance of a new certificate. A new certificate may
be issued without requiring any bond when in the judgment of the directors it is
proper so to do.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                               FINANCE; CONTRACTS

      SECTION 6.01. Checks; Bank Accounts; Etc. Such officers or agents of the
Corporation as from time to time shall be designated by the Board of Directors
shall have authority to deposit any funds of the Corporation in such banks or
trust companies as from time to time shall be designated by the Board of
Directors. Such officers or agents of the Corporation as from time to time shall
be authorized by the Board of Directors may withdraw any or all of the funds of
the Corporation so deposited in any bank or trust company, upon checks, drafts
or other instruments or orders for the payment of money, drawn against the
account or in the name or behalf of the Corporation, and made or signed by such
officers or agents; and each bank or trust company with which funds of the
Corporation are so deposited is authorized to accept, honor, cash and pay,
without limit as to amount, all checks, drafts or other instruments or orders
for the payment of money, when drawn, made or signed by officers or agents so
designated by the Board of Directors until written notice of the revocation of
the authority of such officers or agents by the Board of Directors shall have
been received by such bank or trust company. From time to time there shall be
certified to the banks or trust companies in which funds of the Corporation are
deposited, the signatures of the officers or agents of the Corporation so
authorized to draw against the same. In the event that the Board of Directors
shall fail to designate the persons by whom checks, drafts and other instruments
or orders for the payment of money shall be signed, as hereinabove provided in
this Section, all of such checks, drafts and other instruments or orders for the
payment of money shall be signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Vice Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer, an
Executive Vice President, a Senior Vice President,

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<PAGE>   17

a Vice President or an Assistant Vice President and countersigned by any one of
the Secretary, the Treasurer, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer.

      SECTION 6.02. Loans. Such officers or agents of the Corporation as from
time to time shall be designated by the Board of Directors shall have authority
to effect loans, advances or other forms of credit at any time or times for the
Corporation from such banks, trust companies, institutions, corporations, firms
or persons, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the
Board of Directors from time to time shall designate; and, as security for the
repayment of any loans, advances, or other forms of credit so authorized, to
assign, transfer, endorse and deliver, either originally or in addition or
substitution, any or all personal property, real property, stocks, bonds,
deposits, accounts, documents, bills and accounts receivable and other
commercial paper and evidences of debt or other securities or any rights or
interest at any time held by the Corporation; and, in connection with any of the
foregoing, for any loans, advances or other forms of credit so authorized, such
officers or agents shall have authority to make, execute and deliver one or more
notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, financing statements, security agreements,
acceptances or written obligations of the Corporation, on such terms, and with
such provisions as to the security or sale or disposition thereof as such
officers or agents shall deem proper, and, also, to sell to, or discount or
rediscount with, such banks, trust companies, institutions, corporations, firms
or persons any and all commercial paper, bills and accounts receivable,
acceptances and other instruments and evidences of debt at any time held by the
Corporation, and to that end to endorse, transfer and deliver the same. From
time to time there shall be certified to each bank, trust company, institution,
corporation, firm or person so designated, the signatures of the officers or
agents so authorized; and each such bank, trust company, institution,
corporation, firm or person is authorized to rely upon such certification until
written notice of the revocation by the Board of Directors or the authority of
such officers or agents shall be delivered to such bank, trust company,
institution, corporation, firm or person.


                                       17
<PAGE>   18

      SECTION 6.03. Contracts. Contracts and other instruments in writing which
may be properly made or entered into by the Corporation may be executed in its
behalf and in its name by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice
Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer, an Executive
Vice President, a Senior Vice President or a Vice President, under the corporate
seal, attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary; provided, that the
Board of Directors may by resolution authorize the execution of contracts and
other instruments in writing generally or in specific instances in such manner
and by such persons as may therein be designated.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

      SECTION 7.01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
the calendar year beginning on the first calendar day of each year, unless
otherwise provided by the Board of Directors.

      SECTION 7.02. Seal. The Board of Directors shall provide a suitable seal,
bearing the name of the Corporation, which shall be in the charge of the
Secretary. The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and
provide for the custody thereof. If the Corporation is required to place its
corporate seal to a document, it is sufficient to meet the requirement of any
law, rule or regulation relating to a corporate seal to place the word "(Seal)"
adjacent to the signature of the authorized officer of the Corporation.

        SECTION 7.03. Annual Reports. There shall be prepared annually a full
and correct statement of the affairs of the Corporation, including a balance
sheet and a financial statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year,
which shall be submitted at the annual meeting of the stockholders and placed on
file within twenty (20) days thereafter at the principal office of the
Corporation in the State of Maryland. Such statement shall be prepared or caused
to be prepared by such executive officer of the Corporation as may be designated
in an additional or supplementary by-law adopted by the Board of Directors. If
no other executive officer is so designated, it shall be the duty of the
President and Chief Executive Officer to prepare or cause to be prepared such
statement.

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<PAGE>   19

      SECTION 7.04. Bonds. The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent
or employee of the Corporation to give a bond to the Corporation, conditioned
upon the faithful discharge of his duties, with one or more sureties and in such
amount as may be satisfactory to the Board of Directors.

      SECTION 7.05. Voting upon Shares in Other Corporations. Any shares in
other corporations or associations, which may from time to time be held by the
Corporation, may be voted at any meeting of the stockholders thereof by the
President and Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President of the Corporation or
by proxy or proxies appointed by the President and Chief Executive Officer or a
Vice President of the Corporation. A by-law or a resolution of the Board of
Directors may appoint some other person or persons to vote such shares, in which
case such person or persons shall be entitled to vote such shares upon the
production of a certified copy of such resolution.

      SECTION 7.06. Amendments. (a) Any and all provisions of the By-Laws may be
altered or repealed and new by-laws may be adopted at any annual meeting of the
stockholders, or at any special meeting called for that purpose, and (b) the
Board of Directors shall have the power, at any regular or special meeting
thereof, to make and adopt new by-laws, or to amend, alter or repeal any of the
By-Laws of the Corporation.

      SECTION 7.07. Books and Records. The Corporation shall keep correct and
complete books and records of its accounts (including its capital accounts in
the manner provided by statute) and transactions and minutes of the proceedings
of its stockholders and Board of Directors and of any executive or other
committee when exercising any of the powers of the Board of Directors. The books
and records of the Corporation may be in written form or in any other form which
can be converted within a reasonable time into written form for visual
inspection. Minutes shall be recorded in written form but may be maintained in
the form of a reproduction. The original or a certified copy of the By-Laws of
the Corporation, including any amendments to them, shall be kept at the
Corporation's principal office.

      SECTION 7.08. Inspection of Books. The Board of Directors shall determine,
subject to law, from time to time, whether, and to what extent and at what time
and places and under what conditions

                                       19
<PAGE>   20

and regulations the books, accounts and records of the Corporation or any of
them shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder
shall have any right to inspect any book, record, account or document of the
Corporation, except as conferred by law or authorized by resolution of the
directors. Unless provided otherwise by statute, any request by a stockholder to
examine the books, accounts or records of the Corporation shall be referred to
the Board of Directors for action at the first meeting thereof following such
request to the end that proper consideration may be given to such request in the
light of existing circumstances and of applicable provisions of law.

      SECTION 7.09. Dividends. The Corporation, if declared by the Board of
Directors at any meeting thereof, may pay dividends on its shares in cash,
property, or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation, unless such
dividend is contrary to law or to a restriction contained in the Corporation's
Charter.

      SECTION 7.10. Reserves. Before payment of any dividend there may be set
aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or
sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think
proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing
dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or
for such other purpose or purposes as the directors shall think conducive to the
interest of the Corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such
reserve in the manner in which it was created.

      SECTION 7.11.  Severability.  The invalidity of any provision of the
By-Laws shall not affect the validity of any other provision, and each provision
shall be enforced to the extent permitted by law.

      SECTION 7.12.  Gender.  Whenever used herein, the masculine gender
includes all genders.
                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                 INDEMNIFICATION

      SECTION 8.01. Required Indemnification of Directors. The Corporation shall
indemnify any director made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (a "Proceeding"), unless it is proved that (1) the act or omission

                                       20
<PAGE>   21

of the director was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the
Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active
and deliberate dishonesty, (2) the director actually received an improper
personal benefit in money, property or services, or (3) in the case of any
criminal proceeding, the director had reasonable cause to believe that the act
or omission was unlawful. Indemnification may be against judgments, penalties,
fines, settlements, and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the director in
connection with the Proceeding; provided, however, if the Proceeding was one by
or in the right of the Corporation, indemnification may not be made in respect
of any Proceeding in which the director shall have been adjudged to be liable to
the Corporation. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order or
settlement does not create a presumption that the director did not meet the
requisite standard of conduct set forth in this Section. The termination of any
Proceeding by conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent or
entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable
presumption that the director did not meet the requisite standard of conduct set
forth in this Section.

      SECTION 8.02. Prohibited Indemnification of Directors. A director shall
not be indemnified under Section 8.01 in respect if any Proceeding charging
improper personal benefit to the director, whether or not involving action in
the director's official capacity, in which the director was adjudged to be
liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received.

      SECTION 8.03. Indemnification for Successful Defense. Unless limited by
the Charter, a director who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in
the defense of any Proceeding referred to in Section 8.01 shall be indemnified
against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with such
Proceeding.

      SECTION 8.04. Determination that Indemnification is Proper.
Indemnification under Section 8.01 shall not be made by the Corporation unless
authorized for a specific Proceeding after a determination has been made that
indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because the
director has met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 8.01. Such
determination shall

                                       21
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be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting
of directors not, at the time, parties to the Proceeding, or, if such a quorum
cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a committee of the Board
consisting solely of two or more directors not, at the time, parties to such
Proceeding and who were duly designated to act in the matter by a majority vote
of the full Board in which the designated directors who are parties may
participate, (2) by special legal counsel selected by the Board of Directors or
a committee of the Board by vote as set forth in (1) above, or, if the requisite
quorum of the full Board cannot be obtained therefor and the committee cannot be
established, by a majority vote of the full Board in which directors who are
parties may participate, or (3) by the stockholders. Authorization of
indemnification and determination as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made
in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible.
However, if the determination that indemnification is permissible is made by
special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and determination as to
reasonableness of expenses shall be made in the manner specified for selection
of such counsel. Shares held by directors who are parties to the Proceeding may
not be voted on the subject matter under this Section.

      SECTION 8.05. Payment of Expenses in Advance of Final Disposition.
Reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a Proceeding may be
paid or reimbursed by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of the
Proceeding upon receipt by the Corporation of (1) a written affirmation by the
director of the director's good faith belief that the standard of conduct
necessary for indemnification by the Corporation has been met and (2) a written
undertaking by or on behalf of the director to repay the amount if it shall
ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met. The
undertaking required shall be an unlimited general obligation of the director
but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to financial
ability to make the repayment. Payments under this Section shall be made as
provided by the Charter, these By-Laws or contract or as specified in Section
8.04.

                                       22
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      SECTION 8.06. Expenses of Directors Incurred as a Witness. The Corporation
shall pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director in connection with an
appearance as a witness in a Proceeding at a time when the director has not been
named as a defendant or respondent to the Proceeding.

      SECTION 8.07. Director's Service to Employee Benefit Plan. For purposes of
this Article, (1) the Corporation shall be deemed to have requested a director
to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance of the director's duties
to the Corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by,
the director to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan, (2)
excise taxes assessed on a director with respect to an employee benefit plan
pursuant to applicable law shall be deemed fines; and (3) action taken or
omitted by the director with respect to an employee benefit plan in the
performance of the director's duties for a purpose reasonably believed by the
director to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan
shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests
of the Corporation.

      SECTION 8.08. Officers, Employees or Agents. Unless limited by the
Charter, (1) an officer of the Corporation shall be indemnified as and to the
extent provided in Section 8.03 for a director, (2) the Corporation may
indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, or agent of the
Corporation or of any subsidiary of the Corporation or a director of such a
subsidiary to the same extent that it may indemnify directors of the Corporation
under this Article, and (3) the Corporation, in addition, may indemnify and
advance expenses to an officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or of any
subsidiary of the Corporation or a director of such a subsidiary who is not a
director of the Corporation to such further extent, consistent with law as may
be provided by the Charter, the By-Laws, by action of the Board of Directors or
by contract.

      SECTION 8.09. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee,
or agent of the Corporation or of any subsidiary of the Corporation, or who,
while a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or of any
subsidiary of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer,

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partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan
against any liability asserted against and incurred by such person in any such
capacity or arising out of such person's position, whether or not the
Corporation would have the power to indemnify against liability under the
provisions of this Article. The Corporation may provide similar protection,
including a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond, not inconsistent with
this Section. The insurance or similar protection provided pursuant to this
Section may be provided by a subsidiary or an affiliate of the Corporation.

      SECTION 8.10. Report of Indemnification to Stockholders. Any
indemnification of, or advance of expenses to, a director in accordance with
this Article, if arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the
Corporation, shall be reported in writing to the stockholders with the notice of
the next stockholders' meeting or prior to the meeting.

      SECTION 8.11. Terms. Terms used in this Article, which are not otherwise
defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2-418 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Maryland.

      SECTION 8.12. Scope. The indemnification and advancement of expenses
provided or authorized by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights, by indemnification or otherwise, to which a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation or of a subsidiary of the Corporation may
be entitled under the Charter, the By-Laws, a resolution of stockholders or
directors, an agreement or statute or otherwise, as to action in an official
capacity or as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and the
provisions of this Article shall not be construed to in any way limit any such
other rights.
                                   ARTICLE IX
                                     NOTICES

      SECTION 9.01. Manner of Giving Notice. Whenever under the provisions of
the statutes or of the Charter or of the By-Laws, notice is required to be given
to any director or stockholder of the Corporation, and no provision is made as
to how such notice shall be given, it shall not be construed to

                                       24
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mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, by
depositing the same in a post office or letter box, in a postpaid sealed
wrapper, addressed to such director or stockholder at such address as it appears
on the books of the Corporation, or, in default of other address, to such
director or stockholder at the General Post Office in the City of Baltimore,
Maryland, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same
shall be thus mailed.

      SECTION 9.02. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be
given under the provisions of the statutes or of the Charter, or of the By-Laws,
a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to said
notice, whether before or after the holding of the meeting or the taking of any
other action referred to therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

                                       25