A bill to incorporate the Gold Star Wives of America.
PL 96-497 (S.1179), enacted 12/04/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-497—DEC. 4, 1980 
94 STAT. 2595 
Public Law 96-497 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To incorporate the Gold Star Wives of America. 
Dec. 4, 1980 
[S. 1179] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Gold Star Wives 
of America. 
CHARTER 
Federal charter. 
SECTION 1. Gold Star Wives of America, a corporation organized 36 USC 1601. 
and operating under the laws of the State of New York, is hereby 
recognized as such and granted a Federal charter. 
POWERS 
SEC. 2. Gold Star Wives of America (hereinafter referred to as the 36 use 1602. 
"corporation") shall have only those powers granted to it through its 
bylaws and articles of incorporation filed in the State in which it is 
incorporated. 
OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF CORPORATION 
SEC. 3. The objects and purposes of the corporation shall be, solely, 36 USC 1603. 
that it is— 
(a) organized and operated in the public interest, as a nonparti-
san and nonprofit organization, with terms of membership and 
requirements for holding office within the organization which 
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or 
national origin; 
(b) organized and operated solely for patriotic, charitable, 
literary, educational, scientific, or civic improvement purposes; 
and 
(c) organized for those purposes stated in its articles of incorpo-
ration which are not inconsistent with any of the foregoing 
objects and purposes. 
SERVICE OF PROCESS 
SEC. 4. With respect to service of process, the corporation shall 36 USC 1604. 
comply with the laws of the States in which it is incorporated and 
those States in which it carries on its activities in furtherance of its 
corporate purposes. 
MEMBERSHIP 
SEC. 5. Eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights 36 USC 1605. 
and privileges of members shall, except as provided in this Act, be as 
provided in the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the 
corporation. 
94 STAT. 2596 
PUBLIC LAW 96-497—DEC. 4, 1980 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS; COMPOSITION; RESPONSIBIUTIES 
36 use 1606. 
SEC. 6. The board of directors of the corporation and the responsibil-
ities thereof shall be £is provided in the articles of incorporation of the 
corporation and in conformity with the laws of the State or States 
where incorporated. 
OFFICERS OF CORPORATION 
36 use 1607. 
SEC. 7. The officers of the corporation and the election of such 
officers shall be as is provided in the articles of incorporation of the 
corporation and in conformity with the laws of the State or States 
where incorporated. 
RESTRICTIONS 
36 use 1608. 
SEC. 8. (a) No part of the income or assets of the corporation shall 
inure to any member, officer, or director of the corporation or be 
distributed to any such person during the life of this charter. Nothing 
in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the payment of 
reasonable compensation to officers of the corporation or reimburse-
ment for actual necessary expenses in amounts approved by the 
board of directors. 
O
b
) The corporation shall not make any loan to any officer, director, 
or employee of the corporation. 
(c) The corporation and any officer and director of the corporation, 
acting as such officer or director, shall not contribute to, support or 
otherwise participate in any political activity or in any manner 
attempt to influence legislation. 
(d) The corporation shall have no power to issue any shares of stock 
nor to declare or pay any dividends. 
LIABIUTY 
36 use 1609. 
SEC. 9. The corporation shall be liable for the acts of its officers and 
agents when acting within the scope of their authority and in 
accordance with the laws of the States in which it carries on its 
BOOKS 
AND 
RECORDS; 
INSPECTION 
36 use 1610. 
SEC. 10. The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and 
records of account and shall keep minutes of any proceeding of the 
corporation involving any of its members, the board of directors, or 
any committee having authority under the board of directors. The 
corporation shall keep at its principal office a record of 
the names and 
addresses of all members having the right to vote. All books and 
records of such corporation may be inspected by any member having 
the right to vote, or by any agent or attorney of such member, for any 
proper purpose, at any reasonable time. However, nothing in this 
section shall be construed to contravene any applicable State law. 
AUDIT OP FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 
36 use 1101. 
SEC 11. The first section of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for 
audit of accounts of private corporations established under Federal 
law", approved August 30,1964 (Public Law 88-504; 78 Stat. 635; 36 
U.S.C. 1101), is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(52) Gold Star Wives of America". 
PUBLIC LAW 96-497—DEC. 4, 1980 
94 STAT. 2597 
ANNUAL REPORT 
SEC. 12. The corporation shall report annually to the Congress 3
6 use I6ii. 
concerning the activities of the corporation during the preceding 
calendar year. The report shall not be printed as a public document. 
RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO AMEND OR REPEAL CHARTER 
SEC. 13. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly 36 U
S
C 1612. 
reserved to the Congress. 
DEFINITION OF " S T A T E " 
SEC. 14. For purposes of this Act, the term "State" means the 36 use 1613. 
several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico and the territories and possessions of the United States. 
TAX E X E M P T STATUS—EXPIRATION OF CHARTER 
SEC. 15. The corporation shall retain its status as an organization 36 use 1614. 
exempt from taxation as provided in the Internal Revenue Code. If 
the corporation fails to retain such status, or if it fails to comply with 
the provisions of this Act, the charter granted hereby shall expire. 
Approved December 4, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-1397 accompanying H.R. 154 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-479 (eomm. on the Judiciary). 
eONGRESSIONAL REOORD: 
Vol. 125 (1979): Dec. 20, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 126 (1980): Nov. 17, considered and passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 
154. 
Nov. 21, Senate concurred in House amendment.