dreamproit/uscode huggingface dataset:
15 U.S.C. § 80c–3 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 80c–3. Reduction of costs of small securities issues
(a) The Securities and Exchange Commission shall use its best efforts to identify and reduce the costs of raising capital in connection with the issuance of securities by firms whose aggregate outstanding securities and other indebtedness have a market value of $25,000,000 or less, through such means as studies, giving appropriate publicity to improved technology developments in fields such as printing, communications, and filing, and giving special attention to the effect of existing and proposed regulatory changes upon the small companies wishing to raise capital and independent broker-dealers which are in a key position with respect to the costs of underwriting and making markets in the securities of smaller companies.
(b) The Commission shall report on these efforts at the annual Government-business forum required by section 80c–1 of this title.
(Pub. L. 96–477, title V, § 506, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2293.)
15 U.S.C. § 81 to 134 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§§ 81 to 134. Repealed. July 5, 1946, ch. 540, § 46(a), 60 Stat. 444
Distribution Table
Title 15
Former Sections
Title 15
New Sections
81
1051, 1054, 1126(b).
82
1051, 1061.
83
1126.
84
1125(c), (d).
85
1052.
86
1062, 1063.
87
1063, 1066 to 1068.
88
1070.
89
1071.
90
1060.
91
1057(a), (c).
92
1058, 1059, 1126(f).
93
1064, 1068, 1070.
94
1113.
95
1113.
96
1057(b), 1114, 1115, 1117.
97
1121.
98
1122.
99
1116, 1117.
100
1116, 1118.
101
1115.
102
1071, 1119.
103
1051 note.
104
1120.
105
1123.
106
1124.
107
1111.
108
1127.
109
1051 note.
121
1051 note, 1091, 1126.
122
1092.
123
1125.
124
1114, 1117.
125
1111.
126
1094, 1126(f).
127
1057(e).
128
1113.
131
1112.
132
1051 note.
133
1057(f).
134
not now covered.
text: Sections were repealed effective one year from July 5, 1946, insofar as inconsistent with present trade-mark provisions contained in chapter 22, § 1051 et seq. of this title. For effect of repeal on existing registrations and pending proceedings see notes under section 1051 of this title.
text: Sections 98 and 127 were rerepealed by act June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 39, 62 Stat. 992, eff. Sept. 1, 1948.
heading: Derivation
text: Sections were derived from the following acts:
Feb. 20, 1905, ch. 592, §§ 1 to 23, 25–30, 33 Stat. 724 to 731.
May 4, 1906, ch. 2081, §§ 1 to 3, 34 Stat. 168, 169.
Mar. 2, 1907, ch. 2573, §§ 1, 2, 34 Stat. 1251, 1252.
Feb. 18, 1909, ch. 144, 35 Stat. 627, 628.
Feb. 18, 1911, ch. 113, 36 Stat. 918.
Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 291, 36 Stat. 1167.
Aug. 24, 1912, ch. 370, § 5, 37 Stat. 498.
Jan. 8, 1913, ch. 7, 37 Stat. 649.
Mar. 19, 1920, ch. 104, §§ 1 to 9, 41 Stat. 533 to 535.
June 7, 1924, ch. 341, 43 Stat. 647.
Mar. 4, 1925, ch. 535, §§ 1, 3, 43 Stat. 1268, 1269.
Mar. 2, 1929, ch. 488, § 2(b), 45 Stat. 1476.
Apr. 11, 1930, ch. 132, § 4, 46 Stat. 155.
June 7, 1934, ch. 426, 48 Stat. 926.
June 20, 1936, ch. 617, 49 Stat. 1539.
June 25, 1936, ch. 804, 49 Stat. 1921.
June 10, 1938, ch. 332, §§ 1 to 3, 5, 52 Stat. 638, 639.
15 U.S.C. § 141 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 141. Short title
This chapter may be cited as the “China Trade Act, 1922.”
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 1, 42 Stat. 849.)
heading: References in Text
text: This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, 42 Stat. 849. The Act (except sections 21 to 27) is classified to this chapter. Sections 21 to 27 of the Act amended title II of the Revenue Act of 1921, which was repealed by section 1100 of the Revenue Act of 1924 (43 Stat. 352).
15 U.S.C. § 142 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 142. Definitions
When used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates—
(a) The term “person” includes individual, partnership, corporation, and association;
(b) The term “China” means (1) China including Manchuria, Tibet, Mongolia, and any territory leased by China to any foreign government, (2) the Crown Colony of Hong Kong, and (3) the Province of Macao;
(c) The terms “China Trade Act corporation” and “corporation” mean a corporation chartered under the provisions of this chapter;
(d) The term “Federal district court” means any Federal district court, and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia;
(e) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce; and
(f) The term “registrar” means the China Trade Act registrar appointed under section 143 of this title.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 2, 42 Stat. 849; June 25, 1936, ch. 804, 49 Stat. 1921; Treaty Jan. 11, 1943, 57 Stat. 767; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(a), 62 Stat. 991; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 127, 63 Stat. 107.)
heading: Codification
text: Words “the United States Court for China” deleted from definition of “Federal district court” under the authority of Treaty between the United States and the Republic of China, 57 Stat. 767, which was signed in Washington, Jan. 11, 1943, ratified by the United States Senate on Feb. 11, 1943, ratified by the President on May 4, 1943, and ratified by the Republic of China on Feb. 4, 1943, by which the United States relinquished all extraterritorial jurisdiction and rights in China.
Congress by private act Dec. 22, 1944, ch. 691, 58 Stat. 1086, provided for the relief of certain former employees of the United States Court for China for the period of July 1, 1942 to May 20, 1943, on which date the Court ceased to exist.
heading: Change of Name
text: Act June 25, 1948, eff. Sept. 1, 1948, as amended by act May 24, 1949, substituted “United States District Court for the District of Columbia” for “district court of the United States for the District of Columbia”.
Act June 25, 1936, substituted “district court of the United States for the District of Columbia” for “Supreme Court of the District of Columbia”.
15 U.S.C. § 143 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 143. Registrar; designation; station; supervision by Secretary of Commerce
The Secretary of Commerce may authorize such Foreign Service officer as Secretary of State shall make available to perform duties of China Trade Act Registrar under his direction. The official station of the registrar shall be in China at a place to be designated by the Secretary. All functions vested in the registrar by this chapter shall be administered by him under the supervision of the Secretary; except that upon appeal to the Secretary in such manner as he shall by regulation prescribe, any action of the registrar may be affirmed, modified, or set aside by the Secretary as he deems advisable.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 3, 42 Stat. 850; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 1(d), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1431.)
heading: Transfer of Functions
text: Secretary of Commerce may authorize such Foreign Service officer as Secretary of State shall make available to perform duties of China Trade Act Registrar under direction of Secretary of Commerce to conform to 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Responsibilities of Secretary of Commerce with regard to China Trade Act Registrar are exercised by Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Commerce in Domestic and International Business Administration of the Department of Commerce, with the power of redelegation.
15 U.S.C. § 144a (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 144a. Incorporation fee for perpetual existence
Any China Trade Act corporation existing on June 25, 1938, may make its existence perpetual only upon application to the Secretary of Commerce to amend its charter in that respect and upon payment of a fee equivalent to the incorporation fee. Upon receipt of such application and the payment of such prescribed fee, the Secretary shall approve such application and the charter of the corporation shall be amended accordingly.
(June 25, 1938, ch. 696, § 2, 52 Stat. 1196.)
heading: Codification
text: Section was not enacted as part of the China Trade Act, 1922, which comprises this chapter.
15 U.S.C. § 145 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 145. Certificate of incorporation
The Secretary shall, upon the filing of such application, issue a certificate of incorporation certifying that the provisions of this chapter have been complied with and declaring that the incorporators are a body corporate, if (a) an incorporation fee of $100 has been paid him; (b) he finds that the articles of incorporation and statements therein conform to the requirements of, and that the incorporation is authorized by, this chapter; and (c) he finds that such corporation will aid in developing markets in China for goods produced in the United States. A copy of the articles of incorporation shall be made a part of the certificate of incorporation and printed in full thereon. Any failure, previous to the issuance of the certificate of incorporation, by the incorporators or in respect to the application for the certificate of incorporation, to conform to any requirement of law which is a condition precedent to such issuance, may not subsequent thereto be held to invalidate the certificate of incorporation or alter the legal status of any act of a China Trade Act corporation, except in proceedings instituted by the registrar for the revocation of the certificate of incorporation.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 5, 42 Stat. 850.)
15 U.S.C. § 146 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 146. General powers of corporation
In addition to the powers granted elsewhere in this chapter, a China Trade Act corporation—
(a) Shall have the right of succession during the existence of the corporation;
(b) Shall have a corporate seal and may, with the approval of the Secretary, alter it;
(c) May sue and be sued;
(d) Shall have the right to transact the business authorized by its articles of incorporation and such further business as is properly connected therewith or necessary and incidental thereto;
(e) May make contracts and incur liabilities;
(f) May acquire and hold real or personal property, necessary to effect the purpose for which it is formed, and dispose of such property when no longer needed for such purposes;
(g) May borrow money and issue its notes, coupon or registered bonds, or other evidences of debt, and secure their payment by a mortgage of its property; and
(h) May establish such branch offices at such places in China as it deems advisable.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 6, 42 Stat. 851; Feb. 26, 1925, ch. 345, § 6, 43 Stat. 996.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1925—Par. (b). Act Feb. 26, 1925, substituted “Shall” for “May”.
heading: Treaty
text: Par. (h) of this section has been affected by the 1943 Treaty between United States of America and the Republic of China, 57 Stat. 767, in which the United States relinquished all extraterritorial jurisdiction and rights in China. See Codification note set out under section 142 of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 146a (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 146a. Jurisdiction of suits by or against China Trade Act corporation
The Federal district courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of all suits to which a China Trade Act corporation, or a stockholder, director, or officer thereof in his capacity as such, is a party. Suit against the corporation may be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the Federal district court for any district in which the corporation has an agent and is engaged in doing business.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 20(a), formerly § 20, 42 Stat. 855; renumbered § 20(a), Feb. 26, 1925, ch. 345, § 10, 43 Stat. 996; June 25, 1936, ch. 804, 49 Stat. 1921; Treaty of Jan. 11, 1943, 57 Stat. 767; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(a), 62 Stat. 991; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 127, 63 Stat. 107.)
heading: Codification
text: Section comprises subsec. (a) of section 20 of act Sept. 19, 1922, as amended by act Feb. 26, 1925. Subsec. (b) of section 20 is classified to section 160 of this title.
In the first sentence, the words “(except as provided by the Act entitled ‘An Act creating a United States Court for China and prescribing the jurisdiction thereof,’ approved June 30, 1906, as amended)” have been omitted because that Act (formerly classified to sections 191 to 197, 199, 200, and 202 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse) was repealed by act June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 39, 62 Stat. 992, eff. Sept. 1, 1948.
The provision in the second sentence that suits against the China Trade Act corporation might also be brought in the United States Court for China was omitted as that court is no longer in operation. By the treaty of Jan. 11, 1943, between the United States and China, the United States relinquished extraterritorial rights in China. See Codification note set out under section 142 of this title.
Section was formerly classified to section 53 of Title 28 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, by act June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 1, 62 Stat. 869.
heading: Change of Name
text: Act June 25, 1948, eff. Sept. 1, 1948, as amended by act May 24, 1949, substituted “United States District Court for the District of Columbia” for “district court of the United States for the District of Columbia”.
Act June 25, 1936, changed name of “Supreme Court of the District of Columbia” to “district court of the United States for the District of Columbia”.
15 U.S.C. § 147 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 147. Stock; issuance at par value
Each share of the original or any subsequent issue of stock of a China Trade Act corporation shall be issued at not less than par value, and shall be paid for in cash, or in accordance with the provisions of section 148 of this title, in real or personal property which has been placed in the custody of the directors. No such share shall be issued until the amount of the par value thereof has been paid the corporation; and when issued, each share shall be held to be full paid and nonassessable; except that if any share is, in violation of this section, issued without the amount of the par value thereof having been paid to the corporation, the holder of such share shall be liable in suits by creditors for the difference between the amount paid for such share and the par value thereof.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 7, 42 Stat. 851; Feb. 26, 1925, ch. 345, § 7, 43 Stat. 996.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1925—Act Feb. 26, 1925, substituted “not less than par value” for “par value only”.
15 U.S.C. § 148 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 148. Payment of stock in real or personal property
No share of stock of a China Trade Act corporation shall, for the purposes of section 147 of this title or of subdivision (d) of section 144 of this title, be held paid in real or personal property unless (1) a certificate describing the property and stating the value at which it is to be received has been filed by the corporation with the Secretary or the registrar in such manner as shall be by regulation prescribed, and a fee to be fixed by the Secretary or the registrar, respectively, to cover the cost of any necessary investigation has been paid, and (2) the Secretary or the registrar, as the case may be, finds and has certified to the corporation that such value is not more than the fair market value of the property.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 8, 42 Stat. 851.)
heading: References in Text
text: Subdivision (d) of section 144 of this title, referred to in text, was in the original “paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of section 4”, which is classified to section 144(b)(7) of this title. Part of the provisions of par. (7) were transferred to subd. (d) of section 144 by act Feb. 26, 1925, ch. 345, §§ 3, 5, 43 Stat. 995.
15 U.S.C. § 149 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 149. Bylaws
The bylaws may provide—
(a) The time, place, manner of calling, giving notice, and conduct of, and determination of a quorum for, the meetings, annual or special, of the stockholders or directors;
(b) The number, qualifications, and manner of choosing and fixing the tenure of office and compensation of all directors; but the number of such directors shall be not less than three, and a majority of the directors, and the president and the treasurer, or each officer holding a corresponding office, shall, during their tenure of office, be citizens of the United States resident in China.
(c) The manner of calling for and collecting payments upon shares of stock, the penalties and forfeitures for nonpayment, the preparation of certificates of the shares, the manner of recording their sale or transfer, and the manner of their representation at stockholders’ meetings.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 9, 42 Stat. 852; Feb. 26, 1925, ch. 345, § 8, 43 Stat. 996.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1925—Par. (b). Act Feb. 26, 1925, amended par. (b) generally.
15 U.S.C. § 150 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 150. Stockholders’ meetings
(a) Time of first meeting; quorum
Within six months after the issuance of the certificate of incorporation of a China Trade Act corporation there shall be held a stockholders’ meeting either at the principal office or a branch office of the corporation. Such meeting shall be called by a majority of the directors named in the articles of incorporation and each stockholder shall be given at least ninety days’ notice of the meeting either in person or by mail. The holders of two-thirds of the voting shares, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at such meetings authorized to transact business. At this meeting or an adjourned meeting thereof a code of bylaws for the corporation shall be adopted by a majority of the voting shares represented at the meeting.
(b) Questions for determination only by stockholders
The following questions shall be determined only by the stockholders at a stockholders’ meeting:
(1) Adoption of the bylaws;
(2) Amendments to the articles of incorporation or bylaws;
(3) Authorization of the sale of the entire business of the corporation or of an independent branch of such business;
(4) Authorization of the voluntary dissolution of the corporation; and
(5) Authorization of application for the extension of the period of duration of the corporation.
(c) Authorization of amendments to articles of incorporation
The adoption of any such amendment or authorization shall require the approval of at least two-thirds of the voting shares. No amendment to the articles of incorporation or authorization for dissolution or extension shall take effect until (1) the corporation files a certificate with the Secretary stating the action taken, in such manner and form as shall be by regulation prescribed, and (2) such amendment or authorization is found and certified by the Secretary to conform to the requirements of this chapter.
(d) Filing of bylaws and amendments and minutes of stockholders’ meetings with registrar
A certified copy of the bylaws and amendments thereof and of the minutes of all stockholders’ meetings of the corporation shall be filed with the registrar.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 10, 42 Stat. 852; Feb. 26, 1925, ch. 345, § 9, 43 Stat. 996.)
heading: Amendments
text: 1925—Subsec. (a). Act Feb. 26, 1925, inserted “, represented in person or by proxy,” in third sentence.
15 U.S.C. § 151 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 151. Directors
The directors designated in the articles of incorporation shall, until their successors take office, direct the exercise of all powers of a China Trade Act corporation except such as are conferred upon the stockholders by law or by the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation. Thereafter the directors elected in accordance with the bylaws of the corporation shall direct the exercise of all powers of the corporation except such as are so conferred upon the stockholders. In the exercise of such powers the directors may appoint and remove and fix the compensation of such officers and employees of the corporation as they deem advisable.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 11, 42 Stat. 852.)
15 U.S.C. § 152 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 152. Reports; records for public inspection
(a) For the purposes of this chapter the fiscal year of a China Trade Act corporation shall correspond to the calendar year. The corporation shall make and file with the registrar, in such manner and form and at such time as shall be by regulation prescribed, a report of its business for each such fiscal year and of its financial condition at the close of the year. The corporation shall furnish a true copy of the report to each of its stockholders.
(b) The registrar shall file with the Secretary copies of all reports, certificates, and certified copies received or issued by the registrar under the provisions of this chapter. The Secretary shall file with the registrar copies of all applications for a certificate of incorporation, and certificates received or issued by the Secretary under the provisions of this chapter. All such papers shall be kept on record in the offices of the registrar and the Secretary, and shall be available for public inspection under such regulations as may be prescribed.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 12, 42 Stat. 853.)
15 U.S.C. § 154 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 154. Investigations by registrar; revocation of certificate of incorporation
The registrar may, in order to ascertain if the affairs of a China Trade Act corporation are conducted contrary to any provision of this chapter, or any other law, or any treaty of the United States, or the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation, investigate the affairs of the corporation. The registrar, whenever he is satisfied that the affairs of any China Trade Act corporation are or have been so conducted, may institute in the United States Court for China proceedings for the revocation of the certificate of incorporation of the corporation. The court may revoke such certificate if it finds the affairs of such corporation have been so conducted. Pending final decision in the revocation proceedings the court may at any time, upon application of the registrar or upon its own motion, make such orders in respect to the conduct of the affairs of the corporation as it deems advisable.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 14, 42 Stat. 853.)
heading: References in Text
text: United States Court for China, referred to in text, has been abolished. See Codification note set out under section 142 of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 156 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 156. Dissolution of corporation; trustees
In case of the voluntary dissolution of a China Trade Act corporation or revocation of its certificate of incorporation, the directors of the corporation shall be trustees for the creditors and stockholders of the corporation; except that upon application to the United States Court for China by any interested party, or upon the motion of any court of competent jurisdiction in any proceeding pending before it, the court may in its discretion appoint as the trustees such persons, other than the directors, as it may determine. The trustees are invested with the powers, and shall do all acts, necessary to wind up the affairs of the corporation and divide among the stockholders according to their respective interests the property of the corporation remaining after all obligations against it have been settled. For the purposes of this section the trustees may sue and be sued in the name of the corporation and shall be jointly and severally liable to the stockholders and creditors of the corporation to the extent of the property coming into their hands as trustees.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 16, 42 Stat. 854.)
heading: References in Text
text: United States Court for China, referred to in text, has been abolished. See Codification note set out under section 142 of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 157 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 157. Regulations and fees; disposition of fees and penalties
(a) The Secretary is authorized to make such regulations as may be necessary to carry into effect the functions vested in him or in the registrar by this chapter.
(b) The Secretary is authorized to prescribe and fix the amount of such fees (other than the incorporation fee) to be paid him or the registrar for services rendered by the Secretary or the registrar to any person in the administration of the provisions of this chapter. All fees and penalties paid under this chapter shall be covered into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.
(Sept. 19, 1922, ch. 346, § 17, 42 Stat. 854.)