A bill to grant a Federal charter to the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.
PL 98-561 (S.3034), enacted 10/30/1984

98 STAT. 2910 
PUBLIC LAW 98-561—OCT. 30, 1984 
Public Law 98-561 
98th Congress 
An Act 
Oct. 30, 1984 
To grant a Federal charter to the National Society, Daughters of the American 
[S. 3034] 
Colonists. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Corporation. 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
CHARTER 
36 use 2901. 
SECTION 1. National Society, Daughters of the American Colonists, 
organized and incorporated under the laws of the District of Colum-
bia in 1921, is hereby recognized as such and is granted a charter. 
POWERS 
36 use 2902. 
SEC. 2. National Society, Daughters of the American Colonists 
(hereinafter referred to as the "corporation") shall have only those 
powers granted to it through its bylaws and articles of incorporation 
filed in the State or States in which it is incorporated and subject to 
the laws of such State or States. 
OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF CORPORATION 
36 use 2908. 
SEC. 3. The objects and purposes for which the corporation is 
organized shall be those provided in its articles of incorporation and 
shall include a continuing commitment, on a national basis, to— 
(1) conduct research with respect to the history and deeds of 
the American colonists, and record and publish the results of 
such research; 
(2) publish the memoirs of American colonists; 
(3) erect memorials to commemorate the history and deeds of 
the American colonists; 
(4) promote respect and admiration for the institutions, laws, 
and flag of the United States; 
(5) engage in mutual improvement and educational activities; 
and 
(6) establish scholarships to assist needy and deserving stu-
dents and to promote the improvement of educational institu-
tions, engage in volunteer service and make contributions to 
veterans hospitals, and perform such other charitable activities 
including the national presidents' projects as may be provided 
by the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the society. 
SERVICE OF PROCESS 
36 use 2904. 
SEC. 4. With respect to service of process, the corporation shall 
comply with the laws of the States in which it is incorporated and 
those States in which it carries on its activities in furtherance of its 
corporate purposes. 
PUBLIC LAW 98-561—OCT. 30, 1984 
98 STAT. 2911 
MEMBERSHIP 
SEC. 5. Eligibility for membership in the corporation and the 
36 USC 2905. 
rights and privileges of members shall, except as provided in this 
Act, be as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corpora-
tion, and terms of membership and requirements for holding office 
within the corporation shall not be discriminatory on the basis of 
race, color, religion, or national origin. 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS; COMPOSITION; RESPONSIBILITIES 
SEC. 6. The board of directors of the corporation and the responsi- 
36 USC 2906. 
bilities thereof shall be as provided in the articles of incorporation 
or bylaws of the corporation and in conformity with the laws of the 
State or States in which it is incorporated. 
OFFICERS OF CORPORATION 
SEC. 7. The officers of the corporation, and the election of such 
36 use 2907. 
officers shall be as is provided in the articles of incorporation or 
bylaws of the corporation and in conformity with the laws of the 
State or States wherein it is incorporated. 
RESTRICTIONS 
SEC. 8. (a) No part of the income or assets of the corporation shall 
36 use 2908. 
inure to any member, officer, or director of the corporation or be 
distributed to any such person during the life of this charter. 
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the pay-
ment of reasonable compensation to the officers of the corporation 
or reimbursement for actual necessary expenses in amounts ap-
proved by the board of directors. 
(b) The corporation shall not make any loan to any officer, direc-
tor, or employee of the corporation. 
(c) The corporation and any officer and director of the corporation, 
acting as such officer or director, shall not contribute to, support, or 
otherwise participate in any political activity or in any manner 
attempt to influence legislation. 
(d) The corporation shall have no power to issue any shares of 
stock nor to declare or pay any dividends. 
(e) The corporation shall not claim congressional approvEil or 
Federal Government authority for any of its activities. 
(f) The corporation shall retain and maintain its status as a 
corporation organized and incorporated under the laws of the State 
or States wherein it is incorporated. 
EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO NAME, EMBLEMS, SEALS, AND BADGES 
SEC. 9. Subject to established or vested rights, the corporation 
36 use 2909. 
shall have the sole and exclusive right to have and to use, in 
canying out its purposes, the name National Society, Daughters of 
the American Colonists and any emblem, seal, or badge adopted or 
used by the corporation. 
UABILTTY 
SEC. 10. The corporation shall be liable for the acts of its officers 
36 use 2910. 
and agents when acting within the scope of their authority. 
98 STAT. 2912 
PUBLIC LAW 98-561—OCT. 30, 1984 
BOOKS 
AND 
RECORDS; 
INSPECTION 
36 use 2911. 
SEC. 11. The corporation shall keep correct and complete books 
and records of account and shall keep minutes of any proceeding of 
the corporation involving any of its members, the board of directors, 
or any committee having authority under the board of directors. The 
corporation shall keep at its principal office a record of the names 
and addresses~of all members having the right to vote. All books and 
records of such corporation may be inspected by any member having 
the right to vote, or by any agent or attorney of such member, for 
any proper purpose, at any reasonable time. Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to contravene any applicable State law. 
AUDIT OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 
SEC. 12. The first section of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for 
audit of accounts of private corporations established under Federal 
law", approved August 30, 1964 (36 U.S.C. 1101), is amended by 
adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(66) National Society, Daughters of the American Colonists". 
ANNUAL REPORT 
36 use 2912. 
SEC. 13. The corporation shall report annually to the Congress 
concerning the activities of the corporation during the preceding 
fiscal year. Such annual report shall be submitted at the same time 
as is the report of the audit required by section 11 of this Act. The 
report shall not be printed as a public document. 
RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO AMEND OR REPEAL CHARTER 
36 use 2913. 
SEC 14. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly 
reserved to the Congress. 
DEFINITION OF "STATE" 
36 use 2914. 
SEC. 15. For purposes of this Act, the term "State" includes the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the 
territories and possessions of the United States. 
PUBLIC LAW 98-561—OCT. 30, 1984 
98 STAT. 2913 
TAX-EXEMPT STATUS 
SEC. 16. The corporation shall maintain its status as an organiza- 
36 USC 2915. 
tion exempt from taxation as provided in the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1954. If the corporation fails to maintain such status, the charter 
26 use i 
granted hereby shall expire. 
^
^ ««9 
TERMINATION 
SEC. 17. If the corporation shall fail to comply with any of the 
36 USC 2916. 
restrictions or provisions of this Act, the charter granted hereby 
shall expire. 
Approved October 30, 1984. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3034 (H.R. 1881): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 130 (1984): 
Oct. 4, H.R. 1881 considered and passed House. 
Oct. 10, S. 3034 considered and passed Senate and House.