An Act to provide for the incorporation of certain nonprofit corporations in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes
PL 87-569 (H.R.6967), enacted 08/06/1962

76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC L
A
W 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
265 
Public Law 87-569 
AN ACT 
August 6, 1962 
To provide for the incorporation of certain nonprofit corporations in the District 
[H. R. 6967]— 
of Columbia, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted 
hy the Senate 
and House 
of Representatives 
of the 
United 
States 
of America 
in Congress 
asse^nbled^ T h a t this Act shall ^ °bi*'Non'rofit 
be known and may be cited as the "District of Columbia Nonprofit c^oration^Act. 
Corporation Act". 
CONTENTS 
Sec. 
1. Short Title. 
2. Definitions. 
.3. Applicability. 
4. Purposes. 
5. General Powers. 
6. Defense of Ultra Vires. 
7. Corporate Name. 
8. Reserved Name. 
9. Registered Office and Registered Agent. 
10. Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent 
11. Registered Agent as an Agent for Service. 
12. Members. 
13. Bylaws. 
14. Meetings of Members. 
15. Notice of Members' Meetings. 
16. Voting. 
17. Quorum. 
18. Board of Directors. 
19. Number, Election, Classification, and Removal of Directors. 
20. Vacancies. 
21. Quorum of Directors. 
22. Committees. 
23. Place and Notice of Directors' Meetings. 
24. Officers. 
25. Removal of Officers. 
26. Books and Records. 
27. Shares of Stock and Dividends Prohibited. 
28. Loans to Directors and Officers Prohibited. 
29. Incorporators. 
30. Articles of Incorporation. 
31. Filing of Articles of Incorporation. 
32. Effect of Issuance of Certificate of Incorporation. 
33. Organization Meetings. 
34. Right To Amend Articles of Incorporation. 
35. Procedure To Amend Articles of Incorporation. 
36. Articles of Amendment. 
37. Filing of Articles of Amendment 
38. Effect of Certificate of Amendment. 
39. Procedure for Merger. 
40. Procedure for Consolidation. 
41. Approval of Merger or Consolidation. 
42. Articles of Merger or Consolidation. 
43. Effective Date of the Merger or Consolidation. 
44. Effect of Merger or Consolidation. 
45. Merger or Consolidation of Domestic and Foreign Corporations. 
46. Sale, Lease, Eixchange, or Mortgage of Assets. 
47. Voluntary Dissolution. 
48. Distribution of Assets. 
49. Plan of Distribution. 
50. Revocation of Voluntary Dissolution Proceedings. 
51. Articles of Dissolution. 
52. Filing of Articles of Dissolution, 
53. Involuntary Dissolution. 
54. Venue and Procesa 
55. Jurisdiction of Court To Liquidate Assets and Affairs of Corporation. 
56. Procedure in Liquidation of Corporation by Court 
57. Qualification of Receivers. 
.'^ Filing of Claims in Liquidation Proceedings. 
59. Discontinuance of Liquidation Proceedings. 
60. Decree of Dissolution. 
61. Filing of Decree of Dissolution. 
62. Deposits in Registry of Court. 
266 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
Sec. 
63. Survival of Remedy After Dissolution. 
64. Admission of Foreign Corporation. 
65. Powers of Foreign. Corporation. 
66. Corporate Name of Foreign Corporation. 
67. Change of Name by Foreign Corporation. 
68. Application for Certificate of Authority. 
69. Filing of Application for Certificate of Authority. 
70. Effect of Certificate of Authority. 
71. R^stered Office and Registered Agent of Foreign Corporation. 
72. Change of Registered Office of Registered Agent or Foreign Corporation. 
73. Service of Process on Foreign Corporation. 
74. Amendment to Articles of Incori)oration of Foreign Corporation. 
75. Merger of Foreign Corporation. 
76. Amended Certificate of Authority. 
77. Withdrawal of Foreign Corporation. 
78. Filing of Application for Withdrawal. 
79. Revocation of Certificate of Authority. 
80. Issuance of Certificate of Revocation. 
81. Application to Foreign Corporations Conducting Affairs on the Effective 
Date of This Act. 
82. Conducting Affairs Without Certificate of Authority. 
83. Annual Report of Domestic and Foreign Corporations. 
84. Filing of Annual Report of Domestic and Foreign Corporations. 
85. Effect of Failure To Pay Annual Report Fee or To File Annual Report. 
86. Proclamation of Revocation. 
87. Penalty for Conducting Affairs After Issuance of Proclamation. 
88. Correction of Error in Proclamation. 
89. Reservation of Name of Proclaimed Corporation. 
90. Reinstatement of Proclaimed Corporations. 
91. Penalties Imi)osed Upon Corporation. 
92. Fees for Filing Documents and Issuing Certificates. 
93. Commissioners: Duties and Functions. 
94. Api)eal From Commissioners. 
95. Certificates and Certified Copies To Be Received in Evidence. 
96. Forms To Be Furnished by Commissioners. 
97. Greater Voting Requirements. 
98. Waiver of Notice. 
99. Action by Members or Directors Without a Meeting. 
100. Unauthorized Assumption of Corporate Powers. 
101. Procedure To Elect To Accept Act. 
102. Statement of Election To Accept This Act. 
103. Filing of Statement of Election To Accept This Act. 
104. Effect of Certificate of Acceptance. 
105. Actions To Be in Name of District of Columbia. 
106. Right of Repeal Reserved. 
107. Act Not To Affect Internal Revenue Code of 1954. 
108. Effect of Invalidity of Part of This Act. 
1C9. Effect of False Statement. 
110. Effective Date. 
111. Appropriation of Funds. 
DEFINITI01«fS 
SEC. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires the 
term— 
{&) "Corporation" or "domestic corporation" means a corporation 
not lor profit subject to the provisions of this Act, except a foreign 
corporation. 
( D) "Foreign corporation" means a corporation not for profit organ-
ized under laws other than the laws of the District of Columbia, for 
a purpose or purposes for which a corporation might be organized 
under this Act, but shall not include a corporation created by a special 
Act of Congress. 
(c) "Not for profit corporation" means a corporation no part of 
the income of which is distributable to its members, directors, or 
officers; except nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting 
the payment of reasonable compensation for services rendered and 
the making of distribution upon dissolution of final liquidation as 
permitted in this Act. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
267 
(d) "Articles of incprporation" means the original articles of incor-
poration and all amendments thereto, including articles of merger 
or consolidation, and in the case of a corporation created by a special 
Act of Congress, means such special Act and any amendments thereto 
made by special Act of Congress, or pursuant to general law. 
(e) "Bylaws" means the code or codes of rules adopted for the 
regulation or management of the affairs of a corporation irrespective 
of the name or names by which such rules are designated. 
(f) "Member" means one having membershij) rights in a corpora-
tion in accordance with the provisions of its articles of incorporation 
or bylaws, 
(g) "Board of directors" means the group of i>ersons vested with 
the management of the affairs of a corporation irrespective of the 
name by which such group is designated. 
(h) "Insolvent" means that a corporation is unable to pay its debts 
as they become due in the usual course of its affairs. 
(i) "Commissioners" means the Commissioners of the District of 
Columbia or the agent or agents designated by them to perform any 
function vested in the Commissioners oy this Act. 
(j) "District" means the District of Columbia. 
(k) "The court", except where otherwise specified, means the United 
States District Court for the District of Columbia. 
APPLICABILITY 
SEC. 3. (a) The provisions of this Act relating to domestic corpora-
tions shall apply to all corporations organized hereunder or which 
elect to accept the provisions of this Act. 
(b) The provisions of this Act relating to foreign corporations shall 
apply to all foreign not for profit corporations conducting affairs in 
the District of Columbia for a purpose or purposes for which a cor-
poration might be organized under this Act. 
(c) No corporation eligible to be formed under this Act shall be 
incorporated under any other Act or statute now in force in the Dis-
trict of Columbia except that those organizations eligible to be formed 
under the Acts or parts of Acts referred to in section 49-303, District 
of Columbia Code (1951 edition), may be formed under those Acts 
32 stat. 546. 
or parts of Acts. 
PURPOSES 
SEC. 4. Corporations may be organized under this Act for any law-
ful purpose or purposes including, but not limited to, one or more of 
the following or similar purposes: benevolent; charitable; religious; 
missionary; educational; scientific; research; literary; musical; social; 
athletic; patriotic; political; civic; professional, commercial, indus-
trial, business, or trade association; mutual improvement; promotion 
of the arts; except that cooperative organizations or organizations 
subject to any of the provisions of the insurance laws of the District 
may not be organized under this Act. 
GENERAL POWERS 
SEC. 5. Each corporation shall have power— 
(a) to have perpetual succession by its corporate name unless 
a limited period of duration is stated in its articles of incorpora-
tion ; 
(b) to sue and be sued, complain and defend, in its corporate 
name: 
268 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
(c) to have a corporate seal which may be altered at pleasure 
and to use the same by causing it, or a facsimile thereof, to be 
impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced; 
(d) to purchase, take, receive, lease, take by gift, devise or 
bequest, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use, and other-
wise deal in and with, real or personal property, or any interest 
therein, wherever situated; 
(e) to sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, transfer, 
and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property and assets; 
(f) to lend money to and otherwise assist its employees other 
than its officers and directors; 
(g) to purchase, take, receive, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire, 
own, hold, vote, use, employ^ sell, mortgage, loan, pledge, or other-
wise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with, shares or 
other interests in, or obligations of, other domestic or foreign 
corporations, whether for profit or not for profit, associations, 
partnerships, or individuals, or direct or indirect obligations 
of the United States, or of any other government. State, territory, 
governmental district, or municipality or of any instrumentality 
thereof; 
(h) to make contracts and incur liabilities, borrow money at 
such rates of interest as the corporation "may determine, issue its 
notes, bonds, and other obligations, and secure any of its obliga-
tions by mortgage or pledge of all or any of its property, fran-
chises and income; 
(i) to lend money for its corporate purposes, invest and reinvest 
its funds, and take and hold real and personal property as 
security for the payment of funds so loaned or invested; 
(j) to conduct its affairs, carry on its operations, hold property, 
and have offices and exercise the powers granted by this Act m 
any part of the world; 
(k) to elect or appoint officers and agents of the corporation, 
and define their duties and fix their .compensation; 
(1) to make and alter bylaws, not inconsistent with its articles 
of incorporation or with the laws of the District of Columbia, 
for the administration and regulation of the affairs of the 
corporation; 
(m) unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, 
to make donations for the public welfare or for religious, chari-
table, scientific research, or educational purposes, or for other 
purposes for which the corporation is organized; 
(n) to indemnify any director or officer or former director or 
officer of the corporation, or any person who may have served at 
its request as a director or officer of another corporation, whether 
for profit or not for profit, against expenses actually and neces-
sarily incurred by him in connection with the defense of any 
action, suit, or proceeding in which he is made a party by reason 
of being or having been such director or officer, except in relation 
to matters as to which he shall be adjudged in such action, suit, 
or proceeding to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the 
performance of a duty. 
Such indemnification shall not be deemed 
exclusive of any other rights to which such director or officer may 
be entitled, uncfer any bylaw, agreement, vote of board of directors 
or members, or otherwise; 
(o) to cease its corporate activities and surrender its corporate 
franchise; 
(p) to have and exercise all powers necessary or convenient to 
effect any or all of the purposes for which the corporation is 
organized. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
269 
DEFENSE OF ULTRA VIRES 
SEC. 6. No act of a corporation and no conveyance or transfer of real 
or personal property to or by a corporation shall be invalid by reason 
of the fact that the corporation was without capacity or power to do 
such act or to make or receive such conveyance or transfer, but such 
lack of capacity or power may be asserted: 
(a) In a proceeding by a member or a director against the corpo-
ration to enjoin the doing of any act, or the transfer of real or per-
sonal property by or to the corporation. If the act or transfer sought 
to be enjoined is being, or is to be, performed pursuant to any contract 
to which the corporation is a party, the court may, if all of the parties 
to the contract are parties to the proceeding and if it deems the same 
to be equitable, set aside and enjoin the performance of such contract, 
and in so doing may allow to the corporation or the other parties to 
the contract, as the case may be, compensation for the loss or damage 
sustained by either of them which may result from the action of the 
court in setting aside and enjoining the performance of such contract, 
but anticipated profits to be derived from the performance of the 
contract shall not be awarded by the court as a loss or damage sus-
tained. 
(b) In a proceeding by the corporation, whether acting directly or 
through a receiver, trustee, or other legal representative, or through 
members in a representative suit, against the incumbent or former 
officers or trustees of the corporation. 
(c) In a proceeding by the Commissioners, as provided in this Act, 
to dissolve the corporation, or in a proceeding by the Commissioners to 
enjoin the corporation from the transaction of unauthorized acts. 
CORPORATE 
NAME 
SEC. 7. The corporate name— 
(a) shall not contain any word or phrase which indicates or 
implies that it is organized for any purpose other than one or 
more of the purposes contained in its articles of incorporation; 
(b) shall not oe the same as, or deceptively similar to, the name 
of any domestic corporation, whether for profit or not for profit 
organized under any Act of Congress authorizing the formation 
of corporations under the laws of the District of Columbia, or 
; 
that of any corporation created pursuant to any special Act of 
Congress to transact business or conduct affairs in the District, or 
that of any foreign corporation whether for profit or not for 
S
rofit authorized to transact business or conduct affairs in the 
)istrict, or a name the exclusive right to which is at the time 
reserved in the manner provided in this Act or in accordance with 
the provisions of the District of Columbia Business Corporation 
Act; 
68 Stat. 177. 
(c) shall be transliterated into letters of the English alphabet, 29^901! '^*^* 
if it is not in English ; 
(d) shall not indicate, nor shall any statement be made, that 
the corporation is organized under an Act of Congress. 
RESERVED 
NAME 
SEC. 8. (a) The exclusive right to the use of a corporate name may 
be reserved by any person or corporation, domestic or foreign, by 
delivering to the Commissioners an application to reserve a specified 
corporate name, executed by the applicant. 
If the Commissioners 
find that the name is available for corporate use, they shall reserve the 
same for the exclusive use of the applicant for a period of sixty days. 
270 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
Such reservation may be renewed for an additional period of sixty 
days and for good cause shown such I'eservation may be further 
extended for a reasonable period. 
(b) The right to the exclusive use of a specified corporate name 
so reserved may be transferred to any other person or corporation 
by delivering to the Commissioners a notice of such transfer, executed 
by the applicant for whom the name was reserved, and specifying the 
name and address of the transferee. 
REQISTERED 
OFFICE 
AND 
REGISTERED 
AGENT 
SEC. 9. Each corporation shall have and continuously maintain 
in the District of Columbia— 
(a) a registei'ed office, which may be, but need not be, the same 
as its principal office; 
(b) a registered agent, which agent may be either an individual 
resident of the District of Columbia whose business office is 
identical with such registered office, a domestic corporation, 
whether for profit or not for profit, or a foreign corporation, 
whether for profit or not for profit, authorized to transact business 
or conduct affairs in the District of Columbia and having an 
office identical with such registered office. 
CHANGE OF REGISTERED OFFICE OR REGISTERED AGENT 
SEC. 10. (a) The registered office of a corporation or its registered 
agent, or both, may be changed by delivering to the Commissioners a 
statement setting forth— 
(1) the name of the corporation; 
(2) the address, including street and number, if any, of its 
then registered office; 
(3) if the address of its registered office is to be changed, the 
address, including street and number, if any, to which the regis-
tered office is to be changed; 
(4) the name of its then registered agent; 
(5) if its registered agent is to be changed, the name of its 
successor registJered agent; 
(6) that the address of its registered office and the address of 
the office of its registered agent as changed will be identical; and 
(7) that such change was authorized by resolution duly adopted 
by its board of directors or was authorized by an officer of the 
corporation duly empowered to make such change. 
(b) Such statement shall be executed in duplicate by the corpora-
tion by its president or a vice president, and the corporate seal shall 
be thereto affixed, attested by tne secretary or an assistant secretary, 
and delivered to the Commissioners. If the Commissioners find that 
such statement conforms to law, they shall, when all fees and charges 
have been paid as in this Act prescribed— 
(1) endoi*se on each of such duplicate originals the word 
"Filed", and the month, day, and year of the filing thereof; 
(2) file one of such duplicate originals in their office; 
(3) return the other duplicate original to the corporation or 
its representative. 
(c) The change of address of the registered office, or the change of 
registered agent, or both, as the case may be, shall become effective 
upon the filing of such statement by the Commissioners. 
(d) A corporation shall change its registered agent if the office of 
registered agent shall become vacant for any reason, or if its regis-
tered agent becomes disqualified or incapacitated, or if it revokes the 
appointment of its registered agent. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
271 
(e) Any registered agent of a corporation may resign as such agent 
by delivering written notice thereof, executed in triplicate, to the 
Commissioners, who shall file one copy thereof in their office and forth-
with mail a copy thereof to the corporation at its registered office and 
another copy to the corporation at its principal office in the District 
of Columbia as shown hy the records of the Commissioners. 
The 
appointment of such agent shall terminate upon the expiration of 
thirty days after receipt of such notice by the Commissioners or upon 
the appointment of a successor agent becoming effective, whichever 
occurs sooner. No fee or other charge of any kind shall be imposed 
with respect to a filing under this subsection. 
/ 
REGISTERED AGENT AS A N AGENT FOR SERVICE 
SEC. 11. (a) The registered agent appointed by a corporation as 
provided in this Act shall be an agent of such corporation upon whom 
any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be 
served upon the corporation may be served. Service of any process, 
notice, or demand upon a corporate agent, as such agent, may be had 
by delivering a copy of such process, notice, or demand to the presi-
dent, vice president, the secretary, or an assistant secretary of such 
corporate agent. 
(b) Whenever a corporation shall fail to appoint or maintain a 
registered agent in the District or whenever its registered agent can-
not with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office, then the 
Commissioners shall be an agent of such corporation upon whom any 
such process, notice, or demand may be served. Service on the Com-
missioners of any such process, notice, or demand shall be made by 
delivering to and leaving with them or with any clerk having charge 
of their office duplicate copies of such process, notice, or demand. In 
the event that any such process, notice, or demand is served on the 
Commissioners, they shall immediately cause one of such copies thereof 
to be forwarded by registered or certified mail, addressed to the cor-
poration at its registered office. 
(c) The Commissioners shall keep a record of all processes, notices, 
and demands served upon them under this section, and shall record 
therein the time of such service and their action with respect thereto. 
(d) Nothing herein contained shall limit or affect the right to serve 
any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be 
serv^ upon a corporation in any other manner now or hereafter 
permitted by law. 
MEMBERS 
SEC. 12. A corporation may have one or more classes of members 
or may have no members. If the corporation has one or more classes 
of members, the designation of such class or classes, the manner of 
election or appointment and the qualifications and rights of the mem-
bers of each class shall be set forth in the articles of incorporation or 
the bylaws. If the corporation has no members, that fact shall be set 
forth in the articles of incorporation. 
A corporation may issue 
certificates evidencing membership therein. 
BYLAWS 
SEC. 13. The initial bylaws of a corporation shall be adopted by its 
board of directors. The power to alter, amend, or repeal the bylaws 
or adopt new bylaws shall be vested in the board of directors unless 
otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or the bylaws. 
272 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
MEETINOS OF MEMBERS 
SEC. 14. (a) Meetings of members may be held at such place withm 
or without the District of Columbia as may be provided in the bylaws 
or, where not inconsistent with the bylaws, m the notice of the meeting. 
(b) An annual meeting of the members shall be held at such time 
as may be provided in the bylaws. Failure to hold the annual meeting 
at the designated time shall not work a forfeiture or dissolution of the 
corporation. 
(c) Special meetings of the members may be called by the president, 
the secretary, the board of directors, or by such other officers or per-
sons or number or proportion of members as may be provided in the 
articles of incorporation or the bylaws. In the absence of a provision 
fixing the number or proportion of members entitled to call a meeting, 
a special meeting of members may be called by members having at 
least one-twentieth of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. 
NOTICE or MEMBERS' MEETINGS 
SEC. 15. Written or printed notice stating the place, day, and hour 
of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or pur-
poses for which the meeting is called, shall, in the absence of a pro-
vision in the bylaws specifying a different period of notice, be deliv-
ered not less than ten or more than fifty days before the date of the 
meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the presi-
dent, or the secretary, or the officers or persons calling the meeting, to 
each member entitled to vote at.such meeting. If mailed, such notice 
shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States 
mail addressed to the member at his address as it aj)pears on the 
records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. 
VOTING 
SEC. 16. (a) Members shall not be entitled to vote except as the right 
to vote shall be conferred by the articles of incorporation. 
(b) A member may vote in person or, unless the articles of incorpo-
ration or the bylaws otherwise provide, may vote by proxy executed 
in writing by the member or his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. 
No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from the date of its execu-
tion, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Where the articles of 
incorporation or the bylaws so provide, voting on all matters, includ-
ing the election of directors or officers where they are to be elected by 
the members, may be conducted by mail. 
(c) The articles of incorporation or the bylaws may provide that in 
all elections for directors every member entitled to vote shall have 
the right to cumulate his vote and to give one candidate a number of 
votes equal to his vote multiplied by the number of directors to be 
elected, or by distributing such votes on the same principle among any 
number of such candidates. 
(d) If a corporation has no members or if the members have no 
right to vote, the directors shall have the sole voting power and shall 
have all of the authority and may take any action herein permitted 
members. 
QUORUM 
SEC. IT. (a) The bylaws may provide the number or percentage of 
members entitled to vote represented in person or by proxy, or the 
number or percentage of votes represented in person or by proxy, 
which shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of members. In the 
absence of any such provision, members having at least one-tenth of 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
273 
the votes entitled to be cast represented in person or by proxy shall 
constitute a quorum. 
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes 
entitled to be cast by the members present or represented by proxy at 
a meeting at which a quorum is present, shall be necessary for the 
adoption of any matter voted upon by the members, unless a greater 
proportion is required by this Act, the articles of incorporation or 
the bylaws. 
(b) Unless otherwise provided by the articles of incorporation or the 
bylaws, the members present at a duly organized meeting may continue 
to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the^ withdrawal of 
enough members to leave less than a quorum. 
(c) If a meeting cannot be organized because a quorum has not 
attended, those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time 
until a quorum is present, when any business maj be transacted that 
may have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
SEC. 18. The affairs of a corporation shall be managed by a board 
of directors. 
Directors need not be residents of the District of Colum-
bia or members of the corporation unless the articles of incorporation 
or the bylaws so require. The articles of incorporation or the bylaws 
may prescribe other qualifications for directors. 
NUMBER, ELECTION, CLASSIFICATION, AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS 
SEC. 19. (a) The number of directors of a corporation shall be not 
less than three. 
Subject to such limitation, the number of directors 
shall be fixed by the bylaws, except as to the number of the first board 
of directors which number shall be fixed by the articles of incorpora-
tion. 
The number of directors may be increased or decreased from 
time to time by amendment to the bylaws, unless the articles of incor-
poration provide that a change in the number of directors shall be 
made only by amendment of the articles of incorporation. No decrease 
in number shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incum-
bent director. 
In the absence of a bylaw fixing the number of direc-
tors, the number shall be the same as that stated in the articles of 
incorporation. 
(b) The names and addresses of the members of the first board of 
directors shall be stated in the articles of incorporation. 
Such persons 
shall hold office until the first annual election of directors or for such 
other period as may be specified in the articles of incorporation or the 
bylaws. Thereafter, directors shall be elected or appointed in the 
manner and for the terms provided in the articles of incorporation 
or the bylaws. In the absence of a provision fixing the term of office, 
the term of office of a director shall be one year. 
(c) Directors may be divided into classes and the terms of office 
of the several classes need not be uniform. 
Each director shall hold 
office for the term for which he is elected or appointed and until his 
successor shall have been elected or appointed and qualified, except 
in the case of ex officio directors. 
(d) A director may be removed from office pursuant to any procedure 
tHerefor provided in the articles of incorporation or the bylaws, and 
if none be provided may be removed at a meeting called expressly 
for that purpose, with or without cause, by such vote as would suffice 
for his election. 
78135 0-63—21 
274 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
VACANCIES 
SEC. 20. Any vacancy occurring in the board of directors and any 
directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of 
directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the 
then membei-s of the board of directors, though less than a quorum 
of the board, unless the articles of incorporation or the bylaws provide 
that a vacancy or directorship so created shall be filled in some other 
manner, in which case such provision shall control. A director elected 
or appointed, as the case may be, to fill a vacancy shall be elected or 
appointed for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office. 
QUORUM o r DIRECTORS 
SEC. 21. A majority of the number of directors fixed by the bylaws, 
or in the absence of a bylaw fixing the number of directors, then of 
the number stated in the articles of incorporation, shall constitute a 
quorum for the transaction of business, unless otherwise provided in 
the articles of incorporation or the bylaws; but in no event shall a 
quorum consist of less than one-third of the number of directors so 
fixed or stated. The act of the majority of the directors present at a 
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board 
of directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by this 
Act or by the articles of incorporation or the bylaws. 
COMMITTEES 
SEC. 22. If the articles of incorporation or the bylaws so provide, 
the board of directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the 
directors in office, may designate and appoint one or more committees, 
each of which shall consist of two or more directors, which committees, 
to the extent provided in said resolution, in the articles of incorpora-
tion or in the bylaws of the corporation, shall have and exercise the 
authority of the board of directors in the management of the corpora-
tion. Other committees not having and exercising the authority of 
the board of directors in the management of the corporation may be 
designated and appointed bjr a resolution adopted by a majority of the 
directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The 
designation and appointment of any such committee and the delega-
tion thereto of autnority shall not operate to relieve the board of 
directors, or any individual director, of any responsibility imposed 
upon it or him by law. 
SEC. 23. Meetings of the board of directors, re^lar or special, may 
be held at such place within or without the District of Columbia, and 
upon such notice as may be prescribed in the bylaws or, where not 
inconsistent with the bylaws, oy resolution of the board of directors. 
A director's attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice 
of such meeting, excepting such attendance at a meeting by a director 
for the purpose of ob]ecting to the transaction of business because the 
meeting is not lawfully called or,convened. Neither the business to 
be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or Special meeting of 
the board of directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice 
of such meeting, unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorpo-
ration or the bylaws. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
275 
OFFICERS 
SEC. 24. (a) The officers of a corporation shall consist of a president, 
a secretary, and a treasurer, and may include one or more vice presi-
dents and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed 
necessary, each of whom shall be elected or appointed at such time 
and in such manner and for such terms not exceeding three years as 
may be prescribed in the articles of incorporation or the bylaws. In 
the absence of any such provision, all officers shall be elected or ap-
pointed annually by the board of directors. If the bylaws so provide, 
any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except the 
offices of president and secretary. 
(b) The articles of incorporation or the bylaws may provide that 
any one or more officers of the corporation or other organizations shall 
be ex officio members of the board of directors. 
(c) The officers of a corporation may be designated by such other 
titles as may be provided in the articles of incorporation or the bylaws. 
(d) All officers and agents of the corporation, as between them-
selves and the corporation, shall have such authority and perform such 
duties in the management of the property and affairs of the corpora-
tion as may be provided in the bylaws, or as may be determined by 
resolution of the board of directors not inconsistent with the bylaws. 
REMOVAL o r OFFICERS 
SEC. 25. Any officer or agent elected or appointed may be removed 
by the persons authorized to elect or appoint such officer or agent when-
ever in their judgment the best interest of the corporation will be 
served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the 
contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appoint-
ment of an officer or agent shall not itself create contract rights. 
BOOKS AND RECORDS 
SEC. 26. Each corporation shall keep correct and complete books and 
records of account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its 
members, board of directors, and committees having any of the author-
ity of the board of directors; and shall keep at its registered office or 
principal office in the District of Columbia a record of the names and 
addresses of its members entitled to vote. All books and records of a 
corporation may be inspected by any member having voting rights, 
or his agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable 
time. 
SHARES o r STOCK AND DIVIDENDS PROHIBITED 
SEC. 27. A corporation shall not authorize or issue shares of stock. 
No dividend shall be paid and no part of the income of a corporation 
shall be distributed to its members, directors, or officers. A corporation 
may pay compensation, including pensions, in a reasonable amount to 
its members, directors, or officers for services rendered, may confer 
benefits upon its members in conformity with its purposes, and upon 
dissolution or final liquidation may make distributions to its members 
or others as permitted by this Act. 
LOANS TO DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS PROHIBITED 
SEC. 28. No loans shall be made by a corporation to its directors or 
officers. The directors of a corporation who vote for or assent to the 
making of a loan to a director or officer of the corporation, and any 
officer or officers participating in the making of such a loan, shall be 
276 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
jointly and severally liable to the corporation for the amount of such 
loan until the repayment thereof. 
INCORPORATORS 
SEC. 29. Three or more natural persons of the age of twenty-one 
years or more may act as incorporators of a corporation by signing, 
verifying, and delivering in duplicate to the Commissioners articles 
of incorporation for such corporation. 
ARTICLES o r 
INCORPORATION 
SEC. 30. (a) The articles of incorj)oration shall set forth— 
(1) the name of the corporation; 
(2) the period of duration, which may be perpetual; 
(3) the purpose or purposes for which the corporation is organ-: 
ized; 
(4) if the corporation is to have no members, a statement to 
that effect; 
(5) if the corporation is to have one or more classes of mem-
bers, any provision which the incorporators elect to set forth in 
the articles of incorporation designating the class or classes of 
members, stating the qualifications and rights of the members of 
each class and conferring, limiting, or denying the right to vote; 
(6) if the directors or any of them are not to be elected or 
appointed by one or more classes of members, a statement of the 
manner in which such directors shall be elected or appointed; 
or that the manner of such election or appointment of such direc-
tors shall be provided in the bylaws; 
(7) any provisions, not inconsistent with law, which the incor-
porators elect to set forth in the articles of incorporation for the 
regulation of the internal affairs of the corporation, including 
any provision for distribution of assets on dissolution or final 
liquidation and any provision which under this Act is required 
or permitted to be set forth in the bylaws; 
(8) the address, including street and number, if any, of its 
initial registered office, and the name of its initial registered 
agent at such address; 
(9) the number of directors constituting the initial board of 
directors, and the names and addresses, including street and 
number, if any, of the persons who are to serve as the initial 
dir^ectors until the first annual meeting or until their successors 
be elected and qualify; 
(10). the name and address, including street and number, if 
any, of each incorporator. 
(b) It shall not be necessary to set forth in the articles of incor-
poration any of the corporate powers enumerated in this Act. 
(c) Unless the articles of incorporation provide that a change in 
the number of directors shall be made only by amendment to the 
articles of incorporation, a change in the number of directors made 
by amendment to the bylaws shall be controlling. Whenever a pro-
vision of the articles of incorporation is inconsistent with a bylaw, 
the provision of the articles of incorporation shall be controlling. 
FILING 
o r 
ARTICLES OF 
INCORPORATION 
SEC. 31. (a) Duplicate originals of the articles of incorporation 
shall be delivered to the Commissioners. 
(b) If the Commissioners find that the articles of incorporation 
conform to law, they shall, when all fees and charges have been paid 
as in this Act prescribed— 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
277 
(1) endorse on each of such duplicate originals the word 
"Filed" and the month, day, and year of filing thereof; 
(2) file one of such duplicate originals in their office; 
(3) issue a certificate of incorporation to which they shall affix 
the other duplicate original; 
(4) deliver the certificate of incorporation, together \Yith the 
duplicate original of the articles of incorporation affixed thereto, 
to the incorporators or their representative. 
EFFECT OF ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION 
SEC. 32. Upon the issuance of the certificate of incorporation, the 
corporate existence shall begin, and such certificate of incorporation 
shall be conclusive evidence that all conditions precedent required to 
be performed by the incorporators have been complied with and that 
the corporation has been incorporated under this Act, except as against 
the District of Columbia in a proceeding to cancel or revoke the certifi-
cate of incorporation. 
ORGANIZATION MEETINGS 
SEC. 33. (a) After the issuance of the certificate of incorporation an 
organization meeting of the board of directors named in the articles of 
incorporation shall be held within the United States at the call of a 
majority of the directors so named for the purpose of adopting bylaws 
(unless the power to adopt bylaws has been reserved by the articles 
of incorporation to the members, in which event the bylaws shall be 
adopted by the members), electing officers, and the transaction of such 
other business as may come before the meeting. 
The directors calling 
the meeting shall give at least five days' notice thereof by mail to each 
director so named, which notice shall state the time and place of the 
meeting: Provided,, however,, That if all the directors shall waive notice 
in writing and fix a time and place for said organization meeting no 
notice shall be required of such meeting. 
(b) A first meeting of the members may be held at the call of the 
directors, or a majority of them, upon at least five days' notice, for 
such purposes as shall be stated in the notice of meeting. 
RIGHT IX) AMEND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION 
SEC. 34. A corporation may amend its articles of incorporation, from 
time to time, in any and as many respects as may be desired: Provided,, 
That its articles of incorporation as amended contain only such provi-
sions as might be lawfully contained in original articles of incorpora-
tion if made at the time of making such amendment. 
PROCEDURE TO A M E N D ARTICLES O F INCORPORATION 
SEC. 35. Amendments to the articles of incorporation shall be made 
in the following manner: 
(a) Where there are members having voting rights, the board 
of directors shall adopt a resolution setting forth the proposed 
amendment and directing that it be submitted to a vote at a meet-
ing of members having voting rights, which may be either an 
annual or a special meeting. 
(b) Written or printed notice setting forth the proposed 
amendment or a summary of the changes to be effected thereby 
shall be given to each member entitled to vote at such meeting 
within the time and in the manner provided in this Act for the 
giving of notice of meetings of member?. If the meeting be an 
278 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
annuar meeting, the proposed amendment or such summary shall 
be included in the notice of such annual meeting. 
(c) The proposed amendment shall be adopted upon receiving 
the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds oi the votes entitled 
to be cast by members present or represented by proxy at such 
meeting. 
(d) Where there are no members, or no members having vot-
ing rights, an amendment shall be adopted at a meeting of the 
board of directors upon receiving the vote of a majority of the 
directors in office. 
(e) Any number of amendments may be submitted and voted 
upon at any one meeting. 
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT 
SEC. 36. The articles of amendment shall be executed in duplicate 
by the^orporation by its president or a vice president, and the corpo-
rate seal shall be thereto affixed, attested by its secretary or an assist-
ant secretary, and shall set forth— 
(a) the name of the corporation; 
« 
(b) the amendment so adopted; 
(c) where there are members having voting rights, (1) a state-
ment setting forth the date of the meeting of members at which 
the amendment was adopted, that a quorum was present at such 
meeting, and that such amendment received at least two-thirds of 
the votes entitled to be cast by members present or represented 
by proxy at such meeting, or (2) a statement that such amend-
ment was adopted by a consent in writing signed by all members 
entitled to vote with respect thereto; 
(d) where there are no members, or no members having voting 
rights, a statement of such fact, 4:he date of the meeting of the 
board of directors at which the amendment was adopted, and a 
statement of the fact that such amendment received the vote of 
a majority of the directors in office. 
FILING OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT 
SEC. 87. (a) Duplicate originals of the articles of amendment shall 
be delivered to the Commissioners. 
(b) If the Commissioners find that the articles of amendment 
conform to law, they shall, when all fees and charges have been paid 
as in this Act prescribed— 
(1) endorse on each of such duplicate originals the word 
"Filed"', and the month, day, and year of the filing thereof; 
(2) file one of such duplicate originals in their office; 
(3) issue a certificate of amendment to which they shall affix 
tlie other duplicate original; 
(4) deliver the certificate of amendment, together with the 
duplicate original of the articles of amendment affixed thereto, 
to the corporation or its representative. 
E F F E C T O F CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT 
SEC. 38. (a) Upon the issuance of the certificate of amendment, the 
amendment shall become effective and the articles of incorporation 
shall be deemed to be amended accordingly. 
(b) No amendment shall affect any existing cause of action in favor 
of or against such corporation, or any pending suit to which such 
corporation shall be a party, or the existing rights of persons other 
than members; and, in the event the corporate name shall be changed 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6,1962 
279 
by amendment, no suit brought by or against such corporation under 
its former name shall abate for that reason. 
PKOCEDURE FOR MERGER 
SEC. 39. Any two or more domestic corporations subject to the pro-
visions of this Act may merge into one of such corporations in the 
following manner: 
The board of directors of each corporation shall, by resolution 
adopted by a majority vote of the members of each such board, approve 
a plan of merger setting forth— 
(a) the names of the corporations proposing to merge, and the 
name of the corporation into which they propose to merge, which 
is hereinafter designated as the surviving corporation; 
(b) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger; 
(c) a statement of any changes in the articles of incorporation 
of the surviving corporation to be effected by such merger; 
(d) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger 
as are deemed necessary or desirable. 
PROCEDURE FOR CONSOLIDATION 
SEC, 40. Any two or more domestic corporations subject to the provi-
sions of this Act may consolidate into a new corporation in the follow-
ing manner: 
The board of directors of each corporation shall, by resolution 
adopted by a majority vote of the members of each such board, approve 
a plan of consolidation setting forth— 
(a) the names of the corporations proposing to consolidate, and 
the name of the new corporation into which they propose to con-
solidate, which is hereinafter designated as the new corporation; 
(b) the terms and conditions of the proposed consolidation; 
(c) with respect to the new corporation, all of the statements 
required to be set forth in articles of incorporation for corpora-
tions organized under this Act; 
(d) such other provisions with respect to the proposed consoli-
dation as are deemed necessary or desirable. 
APPROVAL o r MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION 
SEC. 41. A plan of merger or consolidation shall be approved in the 
following manner: 
(a) Where the members of any merging or consolidating cor-
poration have voting rights, the board of directors of such 
corporation shall adopt a resolution approving the proposed plan 
and directing that it be submitted to a vote at a meeting of 
members having voting rights, which may be either an annual or 
a special meeting. 
(b) Written or printed notice setting forth the proposed plan 
or a summary thereof shall be given to each member entitled to 
vote at such meeting within the time and in the manner provided 
in this Act for the giving of notice of meetings of members. 
(c) At each such meeting, a vote of the members shall be taken 
on the proposed plan of merger or consolidation. The plan of 
merger or consolidation shall be approved upon receiving the 
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be 
cast by members present or represented by proxy at such meeting. 
(d) Where any merging or consolidating corporation has no 
members, or no members having voting rights, a plan of merger or 
consolidation shall be adopted at a meeting of the board of direc-
280 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT . 
' tors of such corporation upon receiving the vote of a majority of 
the directors in office. 
(e) After such approval, and at any time prior to the filing of 
the articles of merger or consolidation, the merger or consolida-
tion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set 
forth in the plan of merger or c6nsolidation. 
ARTICLES OF MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION' 
SEC. 42. (a) Upon such approval, articles of merger or articles of 
consolidation shall be executed in duplicate by each corporation by its 
president or a vice president, and the corporate seal of each such cor-
poration shall be thereto affixed, attested by its secretary or an assist-
ant secretary, and shall set forth— 
(1) the plan of merger or the plan of consolidation; 
(2) where the members of any merging or conselidatihg cor-
poration have voting rights, then as to each such corporation (a) 
a statement setting forth the date of the meeting of members at 
which the plan was approved, that a quorum was present at such 
meeting, and that such plan received at least two-thirds of the 
votes entitled to be cast by members present or represented by 
proxy at such meeting, or (b) a statement that such amendment 
was approved by a consent in writing signed by all members 
entitled to vote with respect thereto; 
(3) where any merging or consolidating corporation has no 
members, or no members having voting rights, then as to each 
such corporation a statement of such fact, the date of the meeting 
of the board of directors at which the plan was approved and a 
statement of the fact that such plan received the vote of a major-
ity of the directors in office. 
(b) Duplicate originals of the articles of merger or articles of con-
solidation shall be delivered to the Commissioners. 
(c) If the Commissioners find that such articles conform to law, they 
shall, when all fees and charges have been paid as in this Act 
prescribed— 
(1) endorse on each of such duplicate originals the word 
"Filed", and the month, day, and year of the filing thereof; 
(2) file one of such duplicate originals in their office; 
(3) issue a certificate of merger or a certificate of consolida-
tion to which they shall affix the other duplicate original; 
(4) deliver the certificate of merger or certificate of consolida-
tion, together with the duplicate original of the articles of merger 
or articles of consolidation affixed thereto, to the surviving or new 
corporation, as the case may be, or its representative. 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION 
SEC. 43. Upon the issuance of the certificate of merger, or the 
certificate of consolidation by the Commissioners, the merger or con-
solidation shall be effected. 
EFFECT OF MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION 
SEC. 44. When such merger or consolidation has been effected— 
(a) the several corporations parties to the plan of merger or 
consolidation shall be a single corporation, which, in the case of 
a merger, shall be that corporation designated in the plan of 
merger as the surviving corporation, and, in the case of a con-
solidation, shall be the new corporation provided for in the plan 
of consolidation: 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
281 
(b) the separate existence of all corporations parties to the 
plan of merger or consolidation, except the surviving or new 
corporation, shall cease; 
(c) such surviving or new corporation, as J:he case may be, shall 
have all the rights, privileges, immunities, and powers and shall 
be subject to all the duties and liabilities of a corporation organ-
ized under this Act; 
(d) such surviving or new corporation shall thereupon and 
thereafter possess all the rights, privileges, immunities, and 
franchises, as well of a public as of a jjrivate nature, of each of 
the merging or consolidating corporations; and all property— 
real, personal, and mixed—and all debts due on whatever account, 
and all other choses in action, and all and every other interest, 
of or belonging to or due to each of the corporations so merged 
or consolidated, shall be taken and deemed to be transferred to 
^ and vested in such single corporation without further act or deed; 
and the title to any real estate or other property, or any interest 
therein, vested in any of such corporations shall not revert unless 
required by the terms of the gift, bequest, or devise, or be in any 
way impaired by reason of such merger or consolidation; 
(e) such surviving^or new corporation shall thenceforth be 
responsible and liaMe for all the liabilities and obligations of each 
of the corporations so merged or consolidated; and any claim 
existing or action or proceedmg pending by or against any of such 
corporations may be prosecuted to judgment as if such merger 
or consolidation had not taken place, or such surviving or new 
corporation may be substituted in its place. Neither the rights of 
creditors nor any liens upon the property of any such corporation 
shall be impaired by such merger or consolidation; 
(f) in the case of a merger, the articles of incorporation of the 
surviving corporation shall be deemed to be amended to the extent, 
if any, that changes in its articles of incorporation are stated in 
the articles of merger; and, in the case of a consolidation, the 
statements set forth in the articles of consolidation and which are 
required or permitted to be set forth in the articles of incorpora-
tion of corporations organized under this Act shall be deemed to 
be the articles of incorporation of the new corporation. 
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN CORPORATIONS 
SEC. 45. One or more foreign corporations and one or more domes-
tic corporations may be merged or consolidated if permitted by the 
laws of the State or country under which each such foreign corpora-
tion is organized. 
(a) Each domestic corporation shall comply with the provi-
sions of this Act with respect to the merger or consolidation, as 
the case may be, of domestic corporations and each foreign corpo-
ration shall comply with the applicable provisions of the laws 
of the State or country under which it is organized. 
(b) If the surviving or new corporation, as the case may be, 
is to be governed by the laws of any State or country other than 
the District of Columbia, it shall comply with the provisions of 
this Act with respect to foreign corporations if it is to carry on its 
affairs in the District of Columbia, and in every case it shall 
deliver to the Commissioners, who shall file— 
(1) an agreement that it may be served with process in 
the District of Columbia in any proceeding for the enforce-
ment of any obligation of any domestic corporation which is 
a party to such merger or consolidation; 
282 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
(2) an irrevocable appointment of the Commissioners of 
the District of Columbia as its agent to accept service of 
process in any such proceeding; and 
(3) a post office address to which the Commissioners may 
mail a copy of any service of process, notice, or demand 
against the corporation that may oe served on them. 
(c) The effect of such merger or consolidation shall be the 
same as in the case of the merger or consolidation of domestic 
corporations, if the surviving or new corporation is to be governed 
by the laws of the District of Columbia. If the surviving or new 
corporation is to be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other 
than the District of Columbia, the effect of such merger or con-
solidation shall be the stime as in tlie case of the merger or con-
solidation of domestic corporations except insofar as the laws of 
such other jurisdiction provide otherwise. 
SALE, LEASE, EXCHANGE, ( R MORTGAGE OF ASSETS 
SEC. 46. A sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, or other dispo-
sition of all, or substantially all, the property and assets of a corpora-
tion may be made upon such terms and conditions and for such con-
sideration, which may consist in whole or in part of money or property^ 
real or personal, including shares of any corporation for profit, 
domestic or foreign, as may be authorized in the following manner: 
(a) Where there are members having voting rights, the board 
of directors shall adopt a resolution recommending such sale, 
lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, or other disposition and direct-
ing the submission thereoi to a vote at a meeting of members 
having voting rights, which may be either an annual or a special 
meeting. 
(b) Written or printed notice stating that the purpose, or one 
of the purposes, of such meeting is to consider the sale, lease, 
exchange, mortgage, pledge, or other disposition of all, or sub-
stantially all, the property and assets of the corporation shall be 
given to each memoer entitled to vote at such meeting, within the 
time and in the manner provided by this Act for the giving of 
notice of meetings of members. 
(c) At such meeting the members may authorize such sale, lease, 
exchange, mortgage, pledge, or other disposition and may fix, or 
may authorize the board of directors to fix, any or all of the terms 
and conditions thereof and the consideration to be received by the 
corporation therefor. 
Such authorization shall require the vote 
of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by members 
present or represented by proxy at such meeting. 
(d) After such authorization by a vote of members, tlie board 
of directors, nevertheless, in its discretion, may abandon such sale, 
lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, or other disposition of assets, 
subject to the rights of third parties under any contracts relating 
thereto, without further action or approval by members. 
(e) Where there are no members, or no members having voting 
rights, a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, or other dis-
position of all, or substantially all, the property and assets of a 
corporation shall be authorized upon receiving the vote of a 
majority of the directors in office. 
M ! ' ; 
I «i.Jn 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
/ 
283 
VOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION 
SEC. 47. A corporation may dissolve and wind up its affairs in the 
following manner: 
(a) Where there are members having voting rights, tlie board of 
directors shall adopt a resolution recommending that the corpora-
tion be dissolved, and directing that the question of such dissolu-
tion be submitted to a vote at a meeting of members having voting" 
rights, which may be either an annual or a special meeting. 
Written or printed notice stating that the purpose, or one of the 
purposes, of such meeting is to consider the advisability of dis-
solving the corporation, shall be given to each member entitled to 
vote at such meeting, within the time and in the manner provided 
in this Act for the giving of notice of meetings of memoers. 
A 
resolution to dissolve the corporation shall be adopted upon re-
ceiving at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by 
members present or represented by proxy at such meeting. 
(b) Where there are no members, or no members having voting 
rights, the dissolution of the corporation shall be authorized at 
a meeting of the board of directors upon the adoption of a resolu-
tion to dissolve by the vote of a majority of the directors in office. 
(c) Upon the adoption of such resolution by the members, or by 
the board of directors where there are no members or no members 
having voting rights, the corporation shall cease to conduct its 
affairs except in so far as may be necessary for the winding up 
thereof, shall immediately cause a notice of the proposed dissolu-
tion to be mailed to each known creditor of the corporation, and 
shall proceed to collect its assets and apply and distribute them as 
provided in this Act. 
DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS 
SEC. 48. The assets of a corporation in the process of dissolution 
shall be applied and distributed as follows: 
(a) All liabilities and obligations of the corporation shall be 
paid, satisfied, and discharged, or adequate provision shall be 
made therefor. 
(b) Assets held by the corporation upon condition requiring 
return, transfer, or conveyance, which condition occurs by reason 
of the dissolution, shall be returned, transferred, or conveyed in 
accordance with such requirements. 
(c) Assets received and held by the corporation subject to limi-
tations permitting their use only for charitable, religious, elee-; 
mosynary, benevolent, educational, or similar purposes, but not 
held upon a condition requiring return, transfer, or conveyance 
by reason of the dissolution, shall be transferred or conveyed to; 
one or more domestic or foreign corporations, societies, or organi-' 
zations engaged in activities substantially similar to those of the 
dissolving corporation, pursuant to a plan of distribution adopted 
as provided in this Act. 
(d) Other assets, if any, shall be distributed in accordance with: 
the provisions of the articles of incorporation or the bylaws to: 
tlie extent that the articles of incorporation or bylaws determine' 
the distributive rights of members, or any class or classes of 
members, or pro\nde for distribution to others. 
(e) Any remaining assets may be distributed to such persons, 
societies, organizations, or domestic or foreign corporations, 
whether for profit or not for profit, as may be specified if a plan 
of distribution adopted as provided in this Act. 
284 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 
SEC. 49. A plan providing for the distribution of assets, not incon-
sistent with the provisions of this Act, may be adopted by a corpora-
tion in the process of dissolution and shall be adopted by a corporation 
for the purpose of authorizing any transfer or conveyance of assets 
for which this Act requires a plan of distribution, in the following 
manner: 
(a) Where there are members having voting rights the board 
of directors shall adopt a resolution recommending a plan of 
distribution and directing that the plan be submitted to a vote 
at a meeting of members having voting rights, w^hich may be 
either an annual or a special meeting. 
Written or printed notice 
setting forth the proposed plan of distribution or a summary 
thereof shall be given to each member entitled to vote at such 
meeting, within the time and in the manner provided in this Act 
for the giving of notice of meetings of members. 
Such plan of 
distribution shall be adopted upon receiving at least two-thirds 
of the votes entitled to be cast by members present or represented 
by proxy at such meeting. 
(b) Where there are no members, or no members having voting 
rights, a plan of distribution shall be adopted at a meeting of the 
board of directors upon receiving the vote of a majority of the 
directors in office. 
REVOCATION OF VOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION PROCEEDINGS 
SEC. 50. A corporation may, at any time prior to the issuance of a 
certificate of dissolution by the Commissioners, as hereinafter pro-
vided, revoke the action theretofore taken to dissolve the corporation, 
in the following manner: 
(a) Where there are members having voting rights, the board 
of directors shall adopt a resolution recommending that the volun-
tary dissolution proceedings be revoked, and directing that the 
question of such revocation be submitted to a vote at a meeting of 
members having voting rights, which may be either an annual or 
a special meeting. Written or printed notice stating that the 
purpose, or one of the purposes, of such meeting is to consider 
the advisability of revoking the voluntary dissolution proceed-
ings, shall be given to each member entitled to vote at such meet-
ing, within the time and in the manner provided in this Act for 
the giving of notice of meetings of members. A resolution to 
revoke the voluntary dissolution proceedings shall be adopted 
upon receiving at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast 
by members present or represented by proxy at such meeting. 
(b) Where there are no members, or no members having vot-
ing rights, a resolution to revoke the voluntary dissolution 
proceedings shall be adopted at a meeting of the board of direc-
tors upon receiving the vote of a majority of the directors in 
office. 
(c) Upon the adoption of such resolution by the members, or 
by the board of directors where there are no members or no mem-
bers having voting rights, the corporation may thereupon again 
conduct its affairs. 
If the articles of dissolution have been de-
livered to the Commissioners, notice of such revocation shall be 
given to them in writing. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
285 
ARTICLES OF DISSOLUTION 
SEC. 51. If voluntary dissolution proceedings have not been revoked, 
when all debts, liabilities, and obligations of the corporation shall have 
been paid and discharged, or adequate provisions shall have been made 
therefor, and all of the remaining property and assets of the corpora-
tion shall have been transferred, conveyed, or distributed in accord-
ance with the provisions of this Act, articles of dissolution shall be 
executed in duplicate by the corporation by its president or a vice 
president, and the corporate seal shall be thereto affixed and attested 
by its secretary or an assistant secretary, and such statement shall 
set forth— 
(a) the name of the corporation; 
(b) where there are members having voting rights— 
(1) a statement setting forth the date of the meeting of 
members at which the resolution to dissolve was adopted, that 
a quorum was present at such meeting, and that such resolu-
tion received at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be 
cast by members present or represented by proxy at such 
meeting, or 
(2) a statement that such resolution was adopted by a 
consent in writing signed by all members entitled to vote 
with respect thereto; 
(c) where there are no members, or no members having voting 
rights, a statement of such fact, the date of the meeting of the 
board of directors at which the resolution to dissolve was adopted 
and a statement of the fact that such resolution received the vote 
of a majority of the directors in office; 
(d) that all debts, liabilities, and obligations of the corpora-
tion have been paid and discharged or that adequate provision has 
been made therefor; 
(e) that all the remaining property and assets of the corpora-
tion have been transferred, conveyed, or distributed in accord-
ance with the provisions of this Act; 
(f) that there are no suits pending against the corporation in 
any court, or that adequate provision has been made for the satis-
faction of any judgment, order, or decree which may be entered 
against it in any pending suit. 
FILING OF ARTICLES OF DISSOLUTION 
SEC. 52. (a) Duplicate originals of such articles of dissolution shall 
be delivered to the Commissioners. 
(b) If the Commissioners find that such articles of dissolution con-
form to law, they shall, when all fees and charges have been paid as 
in this Act prescribed— 
(1) endorse on each of such duplicate originals the word 
"Filed", and the month, day, and year of the filing thereof; 
(2) file one of such duplicate originals in their office; 
(3) issue a certificate of dissolution to which they shall affix the 
other duplicate original; 
(4) deliver the certificate of dissolution, together with the 
duplicate original of the articles of dissolution affixed thereto, to 
the representative of the dissolved corporation. 
(c) Upon the issuance of such certificate of dissolution the exist-
ence of the corporation shall cease, except for the purpose of suits, 
other proceedings, and appropriate corporate action oy members, 
directors, and officers as provided in this Act. 
286 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
1 
INV01.UNTARY DISSOI^UTION 
SEC. 58. (a) A corporation may be dissolved involuntarily by a 
decree of the coiu't in an action instituted by the Commissioners in the 
name of the District of Columbia when it is made to appear to the 
court that— 
(1) the franchise of the corporation was procured through 
fraud; or 
(2) the corporation has continued to exceed or abuse the author-
ity conferred upon it by this Act; or 
(3) the corporation has failed for ninety days to appoint and 
maintain a registered agent as provided in this Act; or 
(4) the corporation has failed for ninety days after change 
of its registered office or registered agent to deliver to the Commis-
sioners a statement of such change. 
(b) At least thirty days before any action for the involuntary dis-
solution of a corporation shall be filed by the Commissioners, they 
shall notify the corporation by certified or registered mail addressed 
to such corporation at its registered office a notice of their intention to 
' 
file such suit and the reason therefor. 
If, before action is filed, the 
corporation as the case may be shall submit satisfactory evidence that 
said franchise was not procured through fraud or that the corpora-
tion has not exceeded or abused such authority or shall appoint or 
maintain a registered agent as provided in this Act, or deliver to the 
Commissioners the required statement of change of registered agent, 
the Commissioners shall not file an action against such corporation for 
such cause. If, after action is filed, for a reason stated in paragraph 
(3) or (4) of the preceding subsection the corporation shall as tne 
case may be appoint or maintain a registered agent as provided in this 
Act, or shall deliver to the Commissioners the required statement of 
change of registered agent, and shall pay the costs of such action, the 
action for such cause shall abate. 
VENUE AND PROCESS 
SEC. 54. In every action for the involuntary dissolution of a corpo-
ration hereinbefore provided, summons shall issue and be served as in 
other civil actions. In case a return is made thereon that no officer or 
agent of such corporation can be found within the territorial limits 
of the District of Columbia, then the Commissioners shall cause 
publication to be made in some newspaper of general circulation pub-
lished in the District of Columbia, containing a notice of the pend-
ency of such action, the title of the court, the names of the parties 
thereto, and the date on or after which default may be entered. The 
Commissioners shall cause a copy of such notice to be mailed by 
registered or certified mail to the corporation at its registered office 
within ten days after the first publication thereof. The certificate of 
the Commissioners of the mailing of such notice shall be prima facie 
evidence thereof. Such notice shall be published at least once each 
week for two successive weeks, and the first publication thereof may 
begin at any time after the summons has been returned. 
Unless a 
corporation shall have been served with summons, no default shall. 
be taken against it earlier than thirty days after the first publication 
of such notice. The cost of publication of such notice shall be paid 
by the Commissioners, unless the decree is against the corporation 
and such cost is collected from it. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
287 
JURISDICTION OF COURT TO LIQUIDATE ASSETS AND AFFAIRS OF 
CORPORATION 
SEC. 55. The United States District Court for the District of Colum-
bia shall have full power to liquidate the assets and affairs of a 
corporation— 
(a) in any action by a member or director when it is made 
to appear— 
(1) that the directors are deadlocked in the management 
of the corporate affairs and that irreparable injury to the 
corporation is being suffered or is threatened by reason 
thereof, and either that the members are unable to break the 
deadlock or there are no members having voting rights; or 
(2) that the acts of the directors or those in control of 
the corporation are illegal, oppressive, or fraudulent; or 
(3) that the corporate assets are being misapplied or 
wasted; or 
(4) that the corporation is unable to carry out its purposes; 
(b) in an action by a creditor— 
(l)r when the claim of the creditor has been reduced to 
judgment and an execution thereon has been returned unsat-
isfied and it is established that the corporation is insolvent; 
or 
(2) when the corporation has admitted in writing that the 
claim of the creditor is due and owing and it is established 
that the corporation is insolvent; 
(c) upon application by a corporation to have its dissolution 
continued under the supervision of the court; 
(d) when an action has been commenced by the Commission-
ers to dissolve a corporation and it is made to appear that liquida-
tion of its affairs should precede the entry of a decree of 
dissolution; 
(e) it shall not be necessary to make directors or members 
parties to any such action or proceeding unless relief is sought 
against them personally. 
PROCEDURE IN UQUTOATION OF CORPORATION BY COURT 
SEC. 56. (a) In proceedings to liquidate the assets and affairs of a 
corporation the court shall have the power to issue injunctions, to 
appoint a receiver or receivers pendente lite, with such powers and 
duties as the court, from time to time, may direct, and to take such 
other proceedings as may be requisite to preserve the corporate assets 
wherever situated, and carry on the affairs of the corporation until 
a full hearing can be had. 
(b) After a hearing had upon such notice as the court may direct to 
be given to all parties to the proceedings and to any other parties in 
interest designated by the court, the court may appoint a liquidating 
receiver or receivers with authority to collect the assets of the corpora-
tion. Such liquidating receiver or receivers shall have authority, sub-
ject to the order of the court, to sell, convey, and dispose of all or any 
part of the assets of the corporation wherever situated, either at public 
or private sale. The order appointing such liquidating receiver or 
i-eceivers shall state their powers and duties. Such powers and duties 
may be increased or diminished at any time during the proceedings. 
288 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
(c) The assets of the corporation or the proceeds resulting from a 
sale, conveyance, or other disposition thereof shall be applied and dis-
tributed as follows: 
(1) All costs and expenses of the court proceedings and all lia-
bilities and obligations of the corporation shall be paid, satisfied, 
and discharged, or adequate provision shall be made therefor; 
\ 
(2) Assets held by the corporation upon condition requiring 
return, transfer, or conveyance, which condition occurs by reason 
of the dissolution or liquidation, shall be returned, transferred, or 
conveyed in accordance with such requirements; 
(8) Assets received and held by the corporation subject to 
limitations permitting their use only for charitable, religious, 
eleemosynary, benevolent, educational, or similar purposes, but 
not held upon a condition requiring return, transfer, or convey-
ance by reason of the dissolution or liquidation, shall be trans-
ferred or conveyed to one or more domestic or foreign corpora-
tions, societies, or organizations engaged in activities substan-
tially similar to those of the dissolving or liquidating corporation 
as the court may direct; 
(4) Other assets, if any, shall be distributed in accordance w^ith 
the provisions of the articles of incorporation or the bylaw^s to the 
extent that the articles of incorporation or bylaws determine the 
distributive rights of members or any class or classes of members, 
or provide for distribution to others; 
(5) Any remaining assets may be distributed to such persons, 
societies, organizations, or domestic or foreign corporations, 
whether for profit or not for profit, specified in the plan of distrib-
ution adopted as provided in this Act, or Avhere no plan of distrib-
ution has been adopted, as the court may direct. 
(d) The court shall have power to allow, from time to time, as 
expenses of the liquidation, compensation to the receiver or receivers 
and to attorneys in the proceeding, and to direct the payment thereof 
out of the assets of the corporation or the proceeds of any sale or 
disposition of such assets. 
(e) A receiver of a corporation appointed under the provisions of 
this section shall have authority to sue and defend in all courts in his 
own name as receiver of such corporation. 
The court appointing such 
receiver shall, for the purposes of this Act, have exclusive jurisdiction 
of the corporation and its property, wherever situated. 
QUALIFICATION OF RECEIVFJIS 
SEC. 57. A receiver shall in all cases be a citizen of the United States 
or a corporation for profit authorized to act as receiver, which corpora-
tion may be a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation authorized 
to transact business in the District of Columbia, and shall in all cases 
give such bond as the court may direct with such sureties as the court 
may require. 
FILING OF CLAIMS I N LIQUIDATION PROCEEDINGS 
SEC. 58. In proceedings to liquidate the assets and alTairs of a cor-
poration the court may require all creditors of the corporation to file 
with the clerk of the court or with the receiver, in such form as the 
court may prescribe, proofs under oath of their respective claims. 
If 
the court requires the filing of claims it shall fix a date, which shall be 
not less than four months from tire date of the order, as the last day 
for the filing of claims, and shall prescribe the notice that shall be 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
289 
given to creditors and claimants of the date so fixed. Prior to the 
date so fixed, the court may extend the time for the filing of claims. 
Creditors and claimants failing to file proofs of claim on or before 
the date so fixed may be barred, by order of court, from participating 
in the distribution or the assets of the corporation. 
DISCONTINUANCE OF LIQUIDATION PROCEEDING^ 
SEC. 59. The liquidation of the assets and affairs of a corporation 
may be discontinued at any time during the liquidation proceedings 
when it is made to appear that cause for liquidation no longer exists. 
In such event the court shall dismiss the proceedings and direct the 
receiver to redeliver to the corporation all its remaining property and 
assets. 
DECREE OF DISSOLUTION 
SEC. 60. In proceedings to liquidate the assets and affairs of a cor-
poration, when the costs and expenses of such proceedings and all 
debts, obligations, and liabilities of the corporation shall have been 
paid and discharged and all of its remaining property and assets dis-
tributed in accordance with the provisions of this Act, or in case its 
property and assets are not sufficient to satisfy and discharge such 
costs, expenses, debts, and obligations, and all the property and assets 
have been applied so far as they will go to their payment, the court 
shall enter a decree dissolving the corporation, whereupon the existence 
of the corporation shall cease. 
FILING OF DECREE OF DISSOLUTION 
SEC. 61. In case the court shall enter a decree dissolving a corpora-
tion, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court to cause a certified 
copy of the decree to be delivered to the Commissioners, who shall file 
the same. No fee shall be charged by the Commissioners for the filing 
thereof. 
DEPOSITS I N REGISTRY OF COURT 
SEC. 62. Upon the voluntaiy or involuntary dissolution of a cor-
poration, the portion of the assets distributable to any person who is 
unknown or cannot be found, or who is under disability and there is 
no person legally competent to receive such distributive portion, shall 
be reduced to cash and deposited in the registry of the court and shall 
be paid over to such pei'son or to his legal representative upon proof 
satisfactory to the court of his right thereto. If any portion thereof 
remain in the registry after ten years from the date of deposit, it shall 
escheat to the District of Columbia and shall be paid into the Treasury 
of the United States for the credit of the said District. 
SURVIVAL OF REMEDY AFTER DISSOLUTION 
SEC. 63. The dissolution of a corporation or the expiration of its 
period of duration shall not take away or impair any remedy avail-
able to or against such corporation, its directors, officers, or members 
for any right or claim existing, or any liability incurred, prior to srch 
dissolution if suit or other proceeding thereon is commenced within 
two years after the date of such dissolution. Any suit or proceeding 
by or against the corporation may be prosecuted or defended by the 
corporation in its corporate name. 
The members, directors, and 
officers shall have power to take such corporate or other action as shall 
be appropriate to protect such remedy, right, or claim. If such corpo-
78135 0-63—22 
290 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
ration was dissolved by the expiration of its period of duration, such 
corporation may amend its articles of incorporation at any time dur-
ing such period of two years so as to extend its period of duration. 
ADMISSION OF FOREIGN CORPORATION" 
SEC. 64. (a) A foreign corporation to which this Act is applicable 
shall procure a certificate of authority from the Commissioners before 
it conducts affairs in the District, but no foreign corporation shall be 
entitled to procure a certificate of authority under this Act to con-
duct in the District any affairs w^hich a corporation organized under 
this Act is not permitted to conduct. 
A foreign corporation shall not 
be denied a certificate of authority by reason of the fact that the laws 
of the state or country under which such corporation is organized 
governing its organization and internal affairs differ from the laws 
of the District, and nothing in this Act contained shall be construed 
to authorize the District to regulate the organization or the internal 
affairs of such corporation. 
(b) Without excluding other activities which may not constitute 
conducting affairs in the District of Columbia, a foreign corporation 
shall not be considered to be conducting affairs in the District for 
the purposes of this Act, by reason of conducting an isolated trans-
action completed in thirty days and not in the course of a number 
of repeated transactions of like nature or by reason of any one or 
more of the following activities in the District: 
(1) maintainmg or defending any action or suit or any admin-
istrative or arbitration proceeding, or effecting the settlement 
thereof or the settlement of claims or disputes; 
(2) holding meetings of its directors or members or carrying 
on other activities concerning its internal affairs; 
(8) maintaining bank accounts; 
(4) creating evidences of debt, mortgages, or liens on real or 
personal property; 
(5) collectnig its debts, taking security for the same, or enforc-
ing any rights in property securing the same. 
POWERS OF FOREIGN 
CORPORATION 
SEC. 65. (a) No foreign corporation to which this Act is applicable 
shall conduct in the District any affairs which may not be conducted 
by a corporation organized under this Act. 
(b) A foreign corporation which shall have received a certificate 
of authority under this Act shall, until a certificate of revocation or 
of withdrawal shall have been issued as provided in this Act, enjoy 
the same rights and privileges as, but no greater rights and privileges 
than, a domestic corporation organized tor the purposes set forth in 
the application pursuant to which such certificate of authority is 
issued; and, except as in this Act otherwise provided, shall be subject 
to the same duties, restrictions, penalties, and liabilities now or 
hereafter imposed upon a domestic corporation of like character. 
CORI»ORATE NAME OF FOREIGN CORPORATION 
SEC. 66. No certificate of authority shall be issued to a foreign 
corporation— 
(a) which has a name the same as, or deceptively similar to, 
the name of any domestic corporation, whether for profit or not 
for profit, organized under any Act of Congress authorizing the 
formation of corporations under the laws of the District of 
Columbia or that of any corporation created pursuant to any spe-
D, C. Code 
29-901. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
291 
cial Act of Congress to transact business or conduct affairs in 
the District, or that of any foreign corporation, whether for profit 
or not for profit, authorized to transact business or conduct affairs 
in the District, or a name, the exclusive, right to which is, at the 
time, reserved in the manner provided in this Act, or in accord-
ance with the provisions of the District of Columbia Business i 
Corporation Act; 
essiat. 177 
(b) unless the corporate name of such corporation is in English, 
or is transliterated into letters of the English alphabet if it is not 
in English. 
CHANGE o r NAME BY FOREIGN CORPORATION 
SEC. 67. Whenever a foreign corporation which is authorized to con-
duct affairs in the District of Columbia shall change its name to one 
under which a certificate of authority would not be granted to it on 
application therefor, the authority of such corporation shall be sus-
pended and it shall not thereafter conduct any affairs in the District 
until it has changed its name to a name which is available to it under 
the laws of the District. 
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY 
SEO. 68. A foreign corporation, in order to procure a certificate of 
authority to conduct affairs in the District of Columbia, shall make 
application therefor to the Commissioners, which application shall 
set forth— 
(a) the name of the corporation and the State or country under 
the laws of which it is incorporated; 
(b) the date of incorporation and the period of duration of the 
corporation; 
(c) the address, including street and number, if any, of the 
principal office of the corporation in the State or country under 
the laws of which it is incorporated; 
(d) the address, including street and number, if any, of the 
proposed registered office of the corporation in the District, and 
the name of its proposed registered agent in the District at such 
address; 
(e) a brief statement of the purposes it proposes to pursue in 
conducting its affairs in the District; 
(f) the names and respective addresses, including street and 
number, if any, of the directors and officers of the corporation; 
(g) such additional information as may be necessary or appro-
priate in order to enable the Commissioners to determine whether 
such corporation is entitled to a certificate to conduct affairs in 
the District. 
Such application shall be executed in duplicate by the corporation 
by its president or a vice president, and the corporate seal shall be 
thereto affixed, attested by its secretary or an assistant secretary. 
FILING OF APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY 
SEC. 69. (a) There shall be delivered to the Commissioners— 
(1) duplicate originals of the application of the corporation 
for a certificate of authority; 
(2) a copy of its articles of incorporation and all amendments 
thereto, duly certified by the proper officer of the State or country 
under the laws of which it is incorporated. 
(b) If the Commissioners find that such application conforms to 
law, they shall, when all fees and charges have been paid as in this Act 
pre^rilid- 
^ 
^ 
292 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
(1) endorse on each of such duplicate originals the word 
"Filed", and the month, day, and year of the filing thereof; 
(2^ file in their office one of such duplicate originals of the 
application and the copy of the articles of incorporation and 
amendments thereto; 
(3) issue a certificate of authority to conduct affairs in the Dis-
trict to which they shall affix the other duplicate original appli-
cation ; 
(4) deliver the certificate of authority, together with the dupli-
cate original of the application affixed thereto, to the corporation 
or its representative. 
EFFECT OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY 
SEC. 70, Upon the issuance of a certificate of authority by the Com-
missioners, the corporation shall have the right to conduct affairs in 
the District for those purposes set forth in its application, subject, 
however, to the right of the District to suspend or to revoke such 
authority as provided in this Act. 
REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT OP FOREIGN CORPORATION 
SEC. 71. Each foreign corporation authorized to conduct affairs in 
the District shall have and continuously maintain in the District— 
(a) a registered office which may be, but need not be, the same 
as its principal office in the District; 
(b) a registered a^ent, which a^ent may be either an individual 
resident in the District whose business office is identical with such 
registered office, or a domestic corporation, whether for profit or 
not for profit, or a foreign corporation, whether for profit or not 
for profit, authorized to transact business or conduct affairs in the 
District, having a business office identical with such registered 
office. 
CHANGE OF REGISTERED OFFICE OR REGISTERED AGENT OF FOREIGN 
CORPORATION 
SEC. 72. (a) The registered office of a corporation or its registered 
agent, or both, may be changed by delivering to the Commissioners a 
statement setting forth— 
(1) the name of the corporation; 
(2) the address, including street and number, if any, of its then 
registered office; 
(3) if the address of its registered office is to be changed, the 
address, including street and number, if any, to which the regis-
tered office is to be changed; 
(4) the name of its then registered agent; 
(5) if its registered agent is to be changed, the name of its suc-
cessor registered agent; 
(6) that the address of its registered office and the address of 
the office of its registered agent, as changed, will be identical; 
(7) that such change was authorized by resolution duly adopted 
by its board of directors, or was authorized by an officer of the 
corporation duly empowered to make such change. 
(b) Such statement shall be executed in duplicate by its president 
or vice president, and'the corporate seal shall be thereto affixed, 
attested by its secretary or an assistant secretary, and shall be delivered 
to the Commissionei's. If the Commissioners find that such state-
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
293 
iiient conforms to law, they shall, when all fees and charges have been 
paid as in this Act prescribed— 
(1) endorse on each of such duplicate originals the word 
"Filed'', and the month, day, and year of the filing thereof; 
(2) file one of such duplicate originals in their office; 
(3) return the other duplicate original to the corporation or 
its representative. 
(c) The change of address of the registered office, or the change 
of registered agent, or both, as the case may be, shall become effective 
upon the filing of such statement by the Commissioners. 
(d) A foreign corporation shall change its registered agent if the 
office of registered agent shall become vacant for any reason, or if its 
registered agent becomes disqualified or incapacitated to act, or if it 
re\'okesthe appointment of its registered agent. 
(e) Any registered agent of a foreign corporation may resign as 
such agent by deli\-ering a written notice thereof, executed in dupli-
cate, to the Connnissioners who shall file one copy thereof in their office 
and forthwith nuiil a copy thereof to the corporation at its principal 
office in the state or country under the laws of which it is incorporated 
as the same appears in the records of the Commissioners. The appoint-
ment of such agent shall terminate upon the expiration of thirty days 
after receipt of such notice by the Commissioners or upon the appoint-
ment of a successor agent becoming effective, whichever occurs sooner. 
Xo fee or charge of any kind shall be imposed with respect to a filing 
under this subsection. 
SKKVICE OF TROCESS ON FOREIGN CORPORATION 
SEC. 73. (a) The registered agent so appointed by a foreign corpora-
tion authorized to conduct affairs in the District shall be an agent of 
such coi'poration upon whom any process, notice, or demand required 
or permitted by law to be served upon the corporation, may be served. 
Service of any such process, notice, or demand upon a corporate agent, 
as such agent, may be had by delivering a copy of such process, notice, 
or demand to the president, vice president, the secretary, or an assistant 
secretary of such corporate agent. 
(b) Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to conduct affairs 
in the District shall fail to appoint or maintain a registered agent in 
the District, or whenever any such registered agent cannot with rea-
sonable diligence be found at the registered office, or whenever the 
certificate of authority of a foreign corporation shall be suspended or 
revoked, then the Commissioners shall be an agent of such corpora-
tion upon whom any such process, notice, or demand may be served. 
Service on the Commissioners of any such process, notice, or demand 
sliall be made by delivering to and leaving with them, or with any 
clerk having charge of their office, duplicate copies of such process, 
notice, or demand. In the event any such process, notice, or demand is 
served on the Commissioners, they shall immediately cause one of such 
copies thereof to be forwarded by registered or certified mail, ad-
dressed to the corporation at its principal office in the state or country 
under the laws of which it is incorporated, as the same appears in the 
records of the Commissioners. 
(c) If any foreign corporation shall conduct affairs in the District 
without a certificate of authority, it shall by conducting such affairs 
be deemed to have thereby appointed the Commissioners its agent and 
representative upon whom any process, notice, or demand may be 
served. 
Service shall be made by deliA'ery to and leaving with the 
Commissioners, or with any clerk having charge of their office, dupli-
cate co])ies of such process, notice, or demand, together with an affi-
294 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
davit giving the latest known post office address of such corporation, 
and such service shall be sufficient if notice thereof and a copy of the 
process, notice, or demand are forwarded by registered or certified 
mail, addressed to such corporation at the address given in such 
affidavit. 
(d) The Commissioners shall keep a record of all processes, notices, 
and demands served upon them under this section, and shall record 
therein the time of such service and their action with reference thereto. 
(e) Nothing herein contained shall limit or affect the right to serve 
any process, notice, or demand, required or permitted by law to be 
served upon a corporation in any other manner now or hereafter 
permitted by law. 
AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCOBPORATION OF FOREIGN CORPORATION 
SEC. 74. Whenever the articles of incorporation of a foreign corpo-
ration authorized to conduct affairs in the District are amended, such 
foreign corporation shall, within ninety days after such amendment ; 
becomes effective, file with the Commissioners a copy of such amend-
ment duly certified by the proper officer of the state or country imder ; 
the laws of which it is incorporated; but the filing thereof shall not 
of itself enlarge or alter the purpose or purposes which such corpora-
tion is authorized to pursue in conducting its affairs in the District, nor 
authorize such corporation to conduct affairs in the District under any 
other name than the name set forth in its certificate of authority. 
MERGER OF FOREIGN CORPORATION 
SEC. 75. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to conduct 
affairs in the District shall be a party to a statutory merger permitted 
by the laws of the state or country under the laws of which it is incorpo-
rated, and such corporation shall be the surviving corporation, it shall, 
within ninety days after such merger becomes effective, deliver to 
the Commissioners a copy of the articles of merger duly certified by 
the proper officer of the state or country under the laws of which such 
statutory merger was effected; and it shall not be necessary for such 
corporation to procure either a new or amended certificate oi authority 
to conduct affairs in the District unless the name of such corporation 
be changed thereby or unless the corporation desires to pursue in the 
District other or additional purposes than those which it is then 
authorized to pursue in the District. 
A M E N D E D CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY 
SEC. 76. (a) A foreign corporation authorized to conduct affairs in 
the District shall procure an amended certificate of authority in the 
event it changes its corporate name, or desires to pursue in the District 
other or additional purposes than those set forth in its prior applica-
tion for a certificate of authority, by making application therefor to 
the Commissioners. 
(b) The requirements in respect to the form and contents of such 
application, the manner of its execution, the delivering of duplicate 
originals thereof to the Commissioners, the issuance of an amended 
certificate of authority and the effect thereof, shall be the same as in 
the case of an original application for a certificate of authority. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
295 
WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN CORPORATION 
SEC. 77. (a) A foreign corporation authorized to conduct affairs 
in the District may withdraw from the District upon procuring from 
the Commissioners a certificate of withdrawal. In order to procure 
such certificate of withdrawal, such forei^ corporation shall deliver 
to the Commissioners an application for withdrawal. 
(b) The application for withdrawal shall state— 
(1) the name of the corporation and the state or country under 
the laws of which it is incorporated; 
(2) that the corporation is not conducting affairs in the District; 
(3) that the corporation surrenders its authority to conduct 
affairs in the District; 
(4) that the corporation revokes the authority of its registered i 
agent in the District to accept service of process and consents that 
service of process in any action, suit, or proceeding based upon any: 
cause of action arising in the District during the time the corpora-
tion was authorized to conduct affairs in the District may tnere-
after be made on such corporation by service thereof on the Com-
missioners; 
(5) a post office address to which the Commissioners may mail 
a copy or any process against the corporation that may be served 
on them. 
(c) The application for withdrawal shall be executed by the corpo-
ration by its president or a vice president, and the corporate seal shall 
be thereto affixed, attested by its secretary or an assistant secretary, or, 
if tlie corporation is in the hands of a receiver or trustee, shall be 
executed on behalf of the corporation by such receiver or trustee and 
verified by him. 
FILING OF APPLICATION FOR WITHDRAWAL 
SEC. 78. (a) Duplicate originals of such application for withdrawal 
shall be delivered to the Commissioners. 
If the Commissioners find 
that such application conforms to law, they shall, when all fees have 
been paid as ni this Act prescribed— 
(1) endorse on each of such duplicate originals the word 
"Filed'', and the month, day, and year of the filing thereof; 
(2) file one of such duplicate originals in their office; 
(3) issue a certificate of withdrawal to which they shall affix 
the other duplicate original; 
(4) deliver the certificate of withdrawal, together with the 
duplicate original of the application for withdrawal affixed , 
thereto, to the corporation or its representative. 
(b) Upon the issuance of such certificate of withdrawal, the author-
ity of the corporation to conduct affairs in the District shall cease. 
REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY 
SEC. 79. (a) The certificate of authority of a foreign corporation 
to conduct affairs in the District may be revoked by the Commissioners 
when they find that— 
(1) the certificate of authority of the corporation was procured 
through fraud practiced upon the District; or 
(2) the corporation has continued to exceed or has abused the 
authority conferred upon it by this Act; or 
(3) the corporation has failed for a period of ninety days to 
pay any fees, charges, or penalties prescribed by this Act* or 
(4) the corporation has failed for a period of ninety days to 
appoint and maintain a registered agent in the District; or 
296 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
(5) the corporation has failed for ninety days after change 
of its registered office or registered agent to file with the Com-
missioners a statement of such changes; or 
(6) the corporation for a period of two years has not conducted 
any affairs in the District; or 
(7) the corporation has failed to file with the Commissioners 
a duly certified copy of each amendment to its articles of incor-
poration within ninety days after such amendment becomes 
effective; or 
(8) a misrepresentation has been made of any material matter 
in any application, report, affidavit, or other document submitted 
by such corporation pursuant to this Act. 
(b) No certificate of authority of a foreign corporation shall be 
revoked by the Commissioners unless (1) they shall have given the 
corporation not less than thirty days' notice thereof by certified or 
registered mail addressed to such corporation at its principal office 
in the state or country under the laws of which such corporation is 
organized, as the same appears in the records of the Commissioners or 
at its registered office in the District, and (2) the corporation, prior 
to such revocation and as the case may be, shall fail to submit satis-
factory evidence that said certificate was not procured by such fraud, 
or that the corporation has not exceeded or abused such authority, or 
shall fail to pay such fees, charges, or penalties, or shall fail to ap-
point a registered agent in the District, or shall fail to file the required 
statement of change of registered office or registered agent, or shall 
fail to file a statement showing that it has conducted affairs in the 
District within a period of two years, or shall fail to file a copy of any 
such amendment to its articles of incorporation, or shall fail to sub-
mit satisfactory evidence that a misrepresentation of a material mat-
ter was not made in any such application, report, affidavit, or other 
document. 
ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF REVOCATION 
SEC. 80. (a) Upon i-evoking any such certificate of authority, the 
Commissioners shall— 
(1) issue a certificate of revocation in duplicate; 
(2) file one of such certificates in their office; 
(3) mail the other such certificate to such corporation at its 
registered office in the District or to its principal place of busi-
ness as the same appears in the records of the Commissioners. 
(b) Upon the issuance of such certificate of revocation, the author-
ity of the corporation to conduct affairs in the District shall cease. 
APPLICATION TO FOREIGN CORPORATIONS CONDUCTING AFFAIRS ON 
T H E 
E F F E C I T V E DATE OF T H I S ACT 
SEC. 81. Foreign corporations conducting affairs in the District at 
the time this Act takes eft'ect for a purpose or purposes for which a 
certificate of authority is required under the provisions of this Act 
shall, within six months after the effective date of this Act, procure 
a certificate of authority and shall otherwise comply with all applica-
ble provisions of this Act. Failure to secure a certificate of authority 
Av^ithin the time provided in this section shall subject the corporation 
to all the penalties, liabilities, and restrictions provided in this Act for 
conducting affairs without a certificate of authority. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
297 
COXDUCTIXG AFFAIRS WITHOUT CERT^IFICATE OF AUTHORITY 
SEC. 82. (a) No foreign corporation which is conducting affairs in 
the District without a certificate of authority shall be permitted to 
maintain any action, suit, or proceeding in any court of the District 
until such corporation shall have obtained a certificate of authority. 
Nor shall any action, suit, or proceeding be maintained in any court of 
tlie District by any successor or assignee of such corporation on any 
right, claim, or demand arising out of the conduct of affairs by such 
corporation in the District, until a certificate of authority shall have 
been obtained by such corporation or by a corporation which has 
acquired all or substantially all of its assets. 
(b) The failure of a foreign corporation to obtain a certificate of 
authority to conduct affairs in the District shall not impair the 
validity of any contract or act of such corporation, and shall not 
prevent such corporation from defending any action, suit, or proceed-
ing in any court of the District. 
(c) A foreign corporation which conducts affairs in the District 
without a certificfite of authority shall be liable to the District for the 
years or parts thereof during which it conducted affairs in the District 
without a certificate of authority, in an amount equal to all fees, 
penalties, and other charges which would have been imposed by this 
Act upon such corporation had it duly applied for and received a 
certificate of authority to conduct affairs in the District as required 
by this Act and thereafter filed all reports required by this Act; and, 
in addition thereto, it shall be liable for a penalty to be assessed by 
the Commissioners of not in excess of $200. The Commissioners shall 
brin^ proceedings to recover all amounts due the District under the 
provisions of this section. 
Such charges and penalties shall be paid 
to the District before any certificate of authority is issued to such 
foreign corporation. 
ANNUAL REPORT OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN CORPORATIONS 
SEC. 83. (a) Each domestic corporation, and each foreign corpora-
tion authorized to conduct affairs in the District, shall prepare an 
annual report setting forth— 
(1) the name of the corporation and the State or country 
under the laws of which it is incorporated; 
(2) the address, including street and number, if-any, of its 
registered office in the District, and the name of its registered 
agent at such address, and, in tlie case of a foreign corporation, 
the address, including street and number, if any, of its principal 
office in the state or country under the laws of which it is 
incorporated; 
(3) a brief statement of the character of the affairs which the 
corporation is actually conducting, or, in the case of a foreign cor-
poration, which the corporation is actually conducting m the 
District; 
(4) the names and respective addresses, including street and 
number, if any, of the directors and officers of the corporation. 
(b) Such annual report shall be made on forms prescribed and 
furnished by the Commissioners, and the information therein con-
tained shall be given as of the date of the execution of the report. 
It shall be executed by the corporation by its pi'esident, a vice presi-
dent, secretary, an assistant secretary, treasurer, or assistant treasurer, 
or, if the corporation is in the hands of a receiver or trustee, it shall 
be executed on behalf of the corporation by such receiver or trustee. 
298 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
FILING OF ANNUAL REPORT OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN CORPORATIONS 
SEC. 84. Such annual report of a domestic or foreign corporation 
shall be delivered to the Commissioners on or before the fifteenth day 
of April of each year, except that the first annual report of a domestic 
or foreign corporation shall be delivered to the Commissioners on 
or before the fifteenth day of April of the year next succeeding the 
calendar jrear in which its certificate of incorporation or its certificate 
of authority, as the case may be, was issued by the Commissioners. 
Proof to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that prior to the fif-
teenth day of April such report was deposited in the United States 
mail in a sealed envelope, properly addressed, with postage prepaid, 
shall be deemed a compliance with this requirement. 
If the Commis-
sioners find that such report conforms to law, they shall file the same. 
If they find that it does not so conform, they shall promptly return 
the same to the corporation for any necessary corrections, in which 
event the penalties hereinafter prescribed for failure to file such 
report within the time hereinabove provided shall not apply, if such 
report is corrected to conform to the requirements of this Act and 
returned to the Commissioners in sufficient time to be filed prior to 
the first day of July of the year in which it is due. 
EFFECT' OF FAILURE TO PAY ANNUAL REPORT FEE OR TO FILE ANNUAL REPORT 
SEC. 85. If any corporation incorporated under this Act, or any 
corporation which has elected to accept this Act, or any foreign cor-
poration having a certificate of authority issued under this Act, shall 
for two consecutive years fail or refuse to pay any annual report fee 
or fees payable under this Act, or fail or refuse to file any annual 
report as required by this Act for two consecutive years, then, in the 
case of a domestic corporation, the articles* of incorporation shall be 
void and all powers conferred upon such corporation are declared 
inoperative, and, in the case of a foreign corporation, the certificate 
of authority shall be revoked and all powers conferred thereunder 
shall be inoperative. 
PROCLAMATION 
OF 
REVOCATION 
SEC. 86. (a) On the second Monday in September of each year, the 
Commissioners shall issue a proclamation listing the names of all 
domestic corporations and all foreign corporations which have failed 
or refused to pay any annual report fee or fees or failed or refused 
to file any annual report as required by this Act for two consecutive 
years next preceding June 30 in the year in which such proclamation 
is issued and upon the issuance of such proclamation the articles of 
incorporation or the certificate of authority, as the case may be, shall 
be void and all powers thereunder inoperative without further proceed-
ings of any kind. 
(b) The proclamation of the Commissioners shall be filed in their 
office and shall be published once during the month of September in 
each of two daily newspapers of general circulation in the District 
of Columbia. 
(c) Upon publication of the proclamation of revocation as provided 
in this Act each domestic corporation listed in such proclamation shall 
be deemed to have been dissolved without further legal proceedings 
and each such corporation shall cease to carry on its business and shall, 
after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all of its 
obligations, distribute the remainder of its assets, as in this Act pro-
vided with respect to dissolved corporations. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
299 
(d) An domestic corporations the articles of incorporation of which 
are revoked by proclamation or the term of existence of which expires 
by limitation set forth in its articles of incorporation shall nevertheless , 
be continued for the term of three years from the date of such revoca-
tion or expiration bodies corporate for the purpose of prosecuting and 
defending suits by or against them, and of enabling them to pay, 
satisfy, and discharge their liabilities and obligations and, after pay-
ing or adequately providing for the payment of all its obligations, to 
distribute the remainder of their assets, as in this Act provided with 
respect to dissolved corporations, but not for the purpose of continuing 
to conduct the affairs for which such corporation shall have been 
organized: Provided^ however^ That with respect to any action, suit, 
or proceeding begun or commenced by or against a corporation prior 
to such revocation or expiration and with respect to any action, suit, 
or proceeding begun or commenced by or against such corporation 
within three years after the date of such revocation or expiration, 
such corporation shall only for the purpose of such actions, suits, or 
proceedings so begun or commenced be continued a body corporate 
beyond said three-year period and until any judgments, orders, or 
decrees therein shall be fully executed. 
PENALTY FOR CONDUCTING AFFAIRS AFTER ISSUANCE OF PROCLAMATION 
SEC. 87. Any corporation, person, or persons who shall exercise or 
attempt to exercise any powers under articles of incorporation of a 
domestic corporation or under a certificate of authority of a foreign 
corporation which has been revoked shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by 
imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. 
CORRECTION 
OF 
ERROR 
IN 
PROCLAMATION 
SEC. 88. Wlienever it is established to the satisfaction of the Com-
missioners that any corporation named in said proclamation has not 
failed or refused to pay any annual report fee or file any annual report 
for two consecutive years, or has been inadvertently included in the 
list of corporations as so failing or refusing to pay annual report fees 
or file reports, the (Commissioners are authorized to correct such mis-
take by issuing a proclamation to that effect and restoring the articles 
of incorporation or certificate of authority, as the case may be, to good 
standing with like effect as if such proclamation of revocation, as to 
such corporation, had not been issued. 
R E S E R V A T I O N O F N A M E O F P R O C L A I M E D CORPORATION 
SEC. 89. The Commissioners shall reserve the names of all corpora-
tions the articles of incorporation of which have been revoked and 
of all foreign corporations the certificates of authority of which have 
been revoked until December 31 of the year in which the proclamation 
of revocation was issued and no domestic corporation shall be formed 
nor the name of any such domestic corporation changed to a name the 
same as or decejjtively similar to such reserved name nor shall any 
foreign corporation be authorized to do business under a name the 
same as or deceptively similar to such reserved name. 
300 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
REINSTATEMENT OF PROCLAIMED CORPORATIONS 
SEC. 90. (a) A domestic corporation, the articles of incorporation 
of which have been revoked, may at any time after the date of the 
issuance of the proclamation of revocation deliver to the Commis-
sioners a petition for reinstatement, in duplicate, accompanied by the 
delinquent annual report or reports, or payment of delinquent annual 
report fee or fees in full, or both, as the case may be, plus interest 
thereon as provided by this Act, together with any penalties imposed 
by this Act. The Commissioners, if they find that all such docu-
ments conform to law, and that the period for reservation of the 
name has not expired, or if such period has expired, that the name 
is available for corporate use pursuant to the provisions of this Act, 
shall file them in their office and shall issue their certificate of rein-
statement which shall have the effect of annulling the revocation 
proceedings theretofore taken as to such corporation and such corpora-
tion shall have such powers, rights, duties, and obligations as it had 
at the time of the issuance of the proclamation with the same force 
and effect as to such corporation as if the proclamation had not been 
issued. 
(b) If the petition for reinstatement of a proclaimed corporation 
is delivered to the Commissioners after the period for reservation of 
the name has expired and if they find that the name is not available 
for corporate use pursuant to the provisions of this Act, then, in addi-
tion to complying with the provisions of the preceding paragraph the 
proclaimed corporation shall set forth in its petition for reinstatement 
its name at the time its articles of incorporation were proclaimed void 
and the new name by which the corporation will thereafter be known, 
which shall be a name available for corporate use pursuant to the 
provisions of this Act. 
(c) A foreign corporation whose certificate of authority has been 
revoked shall, upon reentering the District, comply with all of the 
requirements of law applicable to an original application for a certifi-
cate of authority, including the payment of the filing fee for filing 
an application for a certificate of authority, but it need not file again 
a copy of its articles of incorporation or any amendment thereof that 
is then on file with the Commissioners. After the revocation of the 
certificate of authority of a foreign corporation, the Commissioners, 
shall retain the articles of incorporation and amendments theretofore 
filed and the original application for a certificate of authority for a 
period of ten years. 
PENALTIES IMPOSED UPON CORPORATIONS 
SEC. 91. Each corporation, domestic or foreign, that fails or refuses 
to file its annual report for any year within the time prescribed by 
this Act shall be subject to a penalty of $5 to be assessed by the 
Commissioners. 
FEES FOR FILING DOCUMENTS AND ISSUING CERTIFICATES 
SEC. 92. The Commissioners shall charge and collect for— 
(a) filing articles of incorporation and issuing a certificate 
of incorporation^ $10; 
(b) filing articles of amendment and issuing a certificate of 
amendment, $5; 
(c) filing articles of merger or consolidation and issuing a 
certificate of merger or consolidation, $5; 
(d) filing a statement of change of address or registered office 
or change of registered agent, or both, $1; 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
301 
(e) filing articles of dissolution, $1; 
(f) filing an application for reservation of a corporate name 
or for a renewal of reservation, $5; 
(g) filing notice of transfer of a reserved corporate name, $5 ; 
(h) filing statement of election to accept this Act and issuing 
certificate of acceptance, $10; 
(i) filing an application of a foreign corporation for a certifi-
cate of authority to conduct affairs in the District and issuing a 
certificate of authority, $10 ; 
(j) filing an application of a foreign corporation for an 
amended certificate of authority to conduct affairs in the District 
and issuing an amended certificate of authority, $5; 
(k) filing a copy of an amendment to the articles of incorpora-
tion of a foreign corporation holding a certificate of authority to 
conduct affairs in the District, $5; 
(1) filing a copy of articles of merger of a f o r e i ^ corporation 
holding a certificate of authority to conduct affairs m the District, 
$^5 
. 
. 
. 
. 
(m) filing an application for withdrawal of a foreign corpora-
tion and issuing a certificate of withdrawal, $1; 
(n) filing application for reinstatement of a domestic or foreign 
corporation and issuing certificate of reinstatement, $10 ; 
(o) filing any other statement or report, including an annual 
report, of a domestic or foreign corporation, $1; 
(p) indexing each document filed, except an annual report, $2; 
(q) furnishing a certified copy of any document, instrument, 
or paper relating to a corporation, $5; 
(r) furnishing a certificate as to the existence or nonexistence 
of a fact relating to a corporation, $1; 
(s^ The Commissioners are authorized to make. regulations 
providing for reasonable fees for other services not listed in this 
section. 
COMMISSI OXERS : DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS 
SEC. 93. (a) The Commissioners shall have the power and author-
ity reasonably necessary, to enable them to administer this Act effi-
ciently and to perform the duties therein imposed upon them. 
(b) The Commissioners shall be charged with the administration 
and enforcement of this Act. Said Commissioners are authorized to 
employ such personnel as may be necessary for the administration of 
this Act, within appropriations made by Congress. The compensation 
of such personnel shall be fixed in accordance with the provisions of 
the Classification Act of 1949, as amended. 
63 stat. 954. 
(c) The Commissioners may transfer any or all of the functions 
vested in them by this Act to any agent designated by them pursuant 
to law. It shall be the duty of any officer or agency of the government 
of the District of (^olumbia to perform any function delegated to such 
officer or agency by the Commissioners pursuant to this Act. 
(d) Every certificate and other document or paper executed by the 
Commissioners, in pursuance of any authority conferred upon them by 
this Act, and sealed with the seal prescribed by subsection (c) of 
section 120 of the District of Columbia Business Corporation Act, and 
es stat. 228. 
all copies of such papers, as well as of documents and other papers 
filed in accordance with the provisions of this Act, when certified by 
them and authenticated by said seal, shall have the same force and 
effect as evidence as would the originals thereof in any action or pro-
ceeding in any court and before a public officer, or official body. 
(e) The Commissioners are authorized to make, modify, and enforce 
such regulations as they may deem necessary to carry out the provisions 
5 u s e 1071 note. 
D. C. Code 
29-935. 
3 ^ 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
of this Act, prescribe penalties for the violation of any such regula-
tion not exceeding a ftne of $300 or imprisonment for ninety days, 
or both, and to prescribe such forms and procedures for use in the 
conduct of the business of any office or agency established by them as 
they may deem appropriate. 
APPEAL FROM COMMISSIONERS 
SEC. 94. (a) If the Commissioners shall fail to approve any articles 
of incorporation, amendment, merger, consolidation, or dissolution, 
or any other document required by this Act to be approved by the 
Commissioners before the same shall be filed in their office, they shall, 
within ten days after the delivery thereof to them, give written notice 
of their disapproval to the person or corporation, domestic or foreign, 
delivering the same, specifying the reasons therefor. 
From such dis-
approval such person or corporation may appeal to the United States 
District Court for the District of Columbia by filing with the clerk 
of such court a petition setting forth a copy of the articles or other 
document sought to be filed and a copy of the written disapproval 
thereof by the Commissioners; whereupon the matter shall be tried 
de novo by the court, and the court shall either sustain the action of 
the Commissioners or direct them to take such action as the court may 
deem proper. 
(b) If the Commissioners shall revoke the certificate of authority 
to conduct affairs in th« District of any foreign corporation, pursuant 
to the provisions of this Act, such foreign corporation may likewise 
appeal to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia 
by filing with the clerk of such court a petition setting forth a copy of 
its certificate of authority to conduct affairs in the District and a copy 
of the notice oi revocation given by the Commissioners; whereupon 
the matter shall be tried de novo by the court, and the court shall 
either sustain the action of the Commissioners or direct them to take 
such action as the court may deem proper. 
Appeals from all final orders and judgments entered by the United 
States District (^ourt for the District of Columbia under this section 
in review of any ruling or decision of the Commissioners may be 
taken as in otlier civil actions. 
CERTIFICATES AND CERTIFIED COPIES TO BE RECEIVED IN EVIDENCE 
SEC. 95. All certificates issued by the Commissioners in accordance 
with the provisions of this Act, and all copies of documents filed in 
their office in accordance with the provisions of this Act when certified 
by them, shall be taken and received in all courts, public offices, and 
official bodies as prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated. 
A 
certificate by the Commissioners under the seal of their office, as to 
the existence or nonexistence of the facts relating to corporations 
which would not appear from a certified copy of any of the foregoing 
documents or certificates shall be taken and received in all courts, public 
offices, and official bodies as prima facie evidence of the existence or 
nonexistence of the facts therein stated. 
FORMS TO BE FURNISHED BY COMMISSIONERS 
SEC. 96. All reports required by this Act to be filed in the office of 
the C^ommissioners shall be made on forms which shall be prescribed 
and furnished by the Commissioners. Forms for all other documents 
to be filed in the office of the Commissioners shall be furnished by the 
Commissioners on request therefor, but the use thereof, unless other-
wise specifically prescribed in this Act, shall not be mandatory. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBUC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
303 
GREATER VOTING REQUIREMENTS 
SEC. 97. Whenever,* with respect to any action to be taken by the 
members or directors of a corporation, the articles of incorporation 
require the vote or concurrence of a greater proportion of the members 
or directors, as the case may be, than required by this Act with respect 
to such action, the provisions of the articles of incorporation shall 
control. 
WAIVER OF NOTICE 
SEC. 98. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any member 
or director of a corporation under the provisions of this Act or under 
the provisions of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the cor-
poration, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons 
entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, 
shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice. Presence without 
objection also waives notice. 
ACTION BY MEMBERS OR DIRECTORS WITHOUT A MEETING 
SEC. 99. Any action required by this Act to be taken at a meeting of 
the members or directors of a corporation, or any action which may 
be taken at a meeting of the members or directors, may be taken with-
out a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, 
shall be signed by all of the members entitled to vote with respect to the 
subject matter thereof, or all of the directors, as the case may be. 
Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous 
vote, and may be stated as such in. any articles or document filed with 
the Commissioners under this Act. 
UNAUTHORIZED ASSUMPTION OF CORPORATE POWERS 
SEC. 100. All persons who assume to act as a corporation without 
authority so to do shall be jointly and severally liable for all debts 
and liabilities incurred or arising as a result thereof. 
PROCEDURE 
TO 
ELECT 
TO 
ACCEPT 
ACT 
SEC. 101. Any corporation which is organized and existing under the 
laws of the District of Columbia or under any special Act of Congress 
on the date this Act takes effect, and which is organized not for profit, 
and is without authority to issue shares of stock, and is organized for a ' 
purpose or purposes for which a corporation may be organized under 
the provisions of this Act may elect to avail itself of the provisions of 
this Act in the following manner: 
(a) Where there are members having voting rights, the board 
of directors shall adopt a resolution recommending that the corpo-
ration accept this Act and directing that the question of such 
acceptance he submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members 
having voting rights, which may be either an annual meeting or 
a special meeting. Written or printed notice setting forth the 
proposal to accept this Act shall be given to each member entitled 
to vote at such meeting within the time and in the manner pro-
• 
vided in this Act for the giving of notice of meetings of members. 
The proposal to elect to accept this Act shall be adopted upon 
receiving at least two-thirds of the vote entitled to be cast by 
members present or represented by proxy at such meeting. 
(b) Where there are no members, or no members having voting 
rights, the election to accept this Act may be adopted at a meeting 
of the board of directors upon receiving the vote of at least a 
majority of the directors in office. 
304 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
STATEMENT OF ELECTION TO ACCEl'T THIS ACT 
SEC. 102. The statement of election to accept this Act shall be 
executed in duplicate by the corporation by its president or vice presi-
dent, and the corporate seal shall be thereto affixed, attested by its 
secretary, or an assistant secretary, and shall set forth— 
(a) the name of the corporation; 
(b) a statement by the corporation that it has elected to accept 
this Act; 
(c) where there are members having voting rights— 
(1) a statement setting forth the date of the meeting of the 
members at which the election to accept this Act was adopted; 
that a quorum was present at such meeting, and that such 
acceptance received the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds 
of the votes entitled to be cast by members present or repre-
sented by proxy at such meeting, or 
(2) a statement that such election to accept this Act was 
adopted by a consent, in writing, signed by all members 
entitled to vote with respect thereto; 
(d) where there are no members or no members having voting 
rights, a statement of such fact, the date of the meeting of the 
board of directors at which the election to accept this Act was 
adopted, and the statement of the fact that such acceptance 
received the vote of a majority of the directors in office; 
(e) the purpose or purposes (which may be different from its 
existing purposes) which it will thereafter pursue, and shall not 
include any purpose prohibited to a corporation organized under 
this Act; 
(f) if the corporation has no members, a statement to that 
effect; 
(g) if the corporation has members, there shall be set forth— 
(1) the number of classes of members; 
(2) if there is more than one class of members, a state-
ment of the qualifications and rights and limitations of each 
class of members; 
(3) if members, or any class or classes of members, are not 
entitled to vote, a statement to that effect; 
(4) if members, or any class or classes of members are 
entitled to vote, a statement setting forth the voting rights 
and of any limitation or limitations thereof of members or 
of any class or classes thereof; 
(h) any other provision, not inconsistent with law, or this Act, 
for the regulation of the internal affairs of the corporation; 
(i) the address, including street and number, if any, of its 
registered office in the District of Columbia and the name of its 
registered agent at such address; 
(j) the names and respective addresses, including street and 
number, if any, of its officers and directors; 
(k) it shall not be necessary to set forth in the statement of 
election to accept this Act any of the corporate purposes enumer-
ated in this Act. Whenever a provision in the statement of elec-
tion to accept this Act is inconsistent with a bylaw, the provision 
v
y
f the statement of election to accept this Act shall be controlling. 
FILING OF STATEMENT OF ELECTION TO ACCEPT T H I S ACT 
SEC. 103. (a) Duplicate originals of the statement of election to 
accept this Act shall be delivered to the Commissioners. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-569-AUG. 6, 1962 
305 
(b) If the Commissioners find that the statement of election to 
accept this Act conforms to law, they shall, when all fees and charges 
have been paid as in this Act prescribed— 
(1) endorse on each of such duplicate originals the word 
"Filed", and the month, day, and year of the filing thereof; 
(2^ file one of such duplicate originals in their office; 
(3) issue a certificate of acceptance, to which they shall affix the 
., 
other duplicate original; 
(4) deliver such certificate of acceptance with the other dupli-
cate original affixed thereto to the corporation or its representa-
tive. 
EFFECT OF CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE 
SEC. 104. (a) Upon the issuance of a certificate of acceptance as 
hereinbefore provided, the election of the corporation to accept this 
Act shall become effective and the existence of the corporation shall be 
continued under this Act and such certificate shall be conclusive evi-
dence that all conditions precedent required to be performed under this 
Act have been complied with and that the corporation has elected to 
accept the provisions of this Act and the corporation shall be entitled 
to and be possessed of all of the privileges and powers and franchises 
and be subject to all of the provisions of this Act as fully and to the 
same extent as if such corporation had been originally incorporated 
under this Act; and all privileges, franchises, and powers theretofore 
belonging to said corporation and all property, real, personal, and 
mixed, and all debts due on whatever account, and all choses in action, 
and all and every other interest of or belonging to or due such cor-
poration shall be and the same are hereby ratified, approved and con-
firmed and assured to such corporation with like effect and to all 
intents and purposes as if the same had been originally acquired 
through incorporation under this Act; but no contract, debt, claim, 
duty, liability, or obligation of any corporation to which a certificate 
of acceptance has been issued shall be affected or impaired in any way 
nor shall the rights of creditors or any liens upon the property of such 
corporation be affected or impaired by such election to accept this 
Act. 
(b) Neither the issuance of a certificate of acceptance to a corpora-
tion created under the provisions of a special Act of Congress, nor the 
adoption of any amendment pursuant to this Act, shall release or 
terminate any duty or obligation expressly imposed upon any such 
corporation under and by virtue of the special Act of Congress under 
Avhich it was created or any amendment made thereto, nor enlarge any 
right, power, or privilege granted any such corporation by such special 
Act except to the extent that such right, power, or privilege might have 
been included in the articles of incorporation of a corporation organ-
ized under this Act. 
ACTIONS TO BE I N NAME OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
SEC. 105. All civil actions under this Act which the Commissioners 
are authorized to commence, and all prosecutions for violations of the 
provisions of this Act or of regulations promulgated under the author-
ity of this Act, shall be brought in the name of the District of Colum-
bia by the Corporation Counsel of the District of Columbia. 
As used 
in this Act the term "Corporation Counsel" means the attorney for 
the District, by whatever title such attorney may be known, designated 
by the Commissioners to perform the functions prescribed for the 
Corporation Counsel in this Act. 
78315 0-63—23 
306 
PUBLIC LAW 87-570-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
RIGHT OF REPEAL RESERVED 
SEC. 106. Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this 
Act, or any part thereof, or any certificate of incorporation or certifi-
cate of authority issued pursuant to its provisions. 
26 u s e 1 et seq. 
ACT NOT TO AFFECT INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1 9 5 4 
SEC. 107. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as repealing or 
aifecting any provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. 
EFFECT o r INVALIDITY OF PART OF THIS ACT 
SEC. 108. If a court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge to be 
invalid or unconstitutional any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, 
or part of this Act, such judgment or decree shall not affect, impair, 
invalidate, or nullify the remainder of this Act, but the effect thereof 
shall be confined to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of 
this Act so adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional. 
EFFECT OF FALSE STATEMENT 
SEC. 109. A person who signs any instrument delivered to the Com-
missioners pursuant to this Act, knowing it to contain a misstatement 
of fact, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a 
fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment for not exceeding one 
year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
I 
SEC. 110. This Act shall take effect one hundred and eighty days 
after the date of its approval. 
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS 
SEC. 111. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated from any 
moneys in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the 
District of Columbia, such amounts as may be necessary to carry into 
effect the provisions of this Act. 
Approved August 6, 1962. 
August 6, 1962 
[H. R. 11735] 
Illinois. 
Sid Simpson 
flood control proj-
«ct, designation. 
• 64 Stat. 175. 
Public Law 87-570 
AN ACT 
Authorizing the change in name of the Beardstown, Illinois, 
flood 
control project, 
to the Sid Simpson flood control project. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Beardstown 
flood control project, Illinois River, Illinois, authorized by the Flood 
Control Act of May 17, 1950, in accordance with the provisions of 
House Document Numbered 332, Eighty-first Congress, shall hereafter 
be known and designated as the Sid Simpson flood control project 
in honor of the late Representative Sid Simpson. Any law, regulation, 
document, or record of the United States in which such project is 
designated or referred to under the name of the Beardstown, Illinois, 
flood control project, shall be held and considered to refer to such 
project by the name of Sid Simpson flood control project. 
Approved August 6, 1962.