A bill to recognize the organization known as the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861-1865.
PL 99-172 (H.R.1806), enacted 12/09/1985

99 STAT. 1020 
PUBLIC LAW 99-172—DEC. 9, 1985 
Public Law 99-172 
99th Congress 
An Act 
Corporation. 
36 u s e 3701. 
36 u s e 3702. 
Dec. 9, 1985 
To recognize the organization known as the Daughters of Union Veterans of the 
[H.R. 1806] 
Civil War 1861-1865. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
CHARTER 
SECTION 1. The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War 
1861-1865, a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the 
State of Ohio, is recognized as such and is granted a Federal charter. 
POWERS 
SEC 2. The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861-
1865 (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "corporation") shall 
have only those powers granted to it through its bylaws and 
articles of incorporation filed in the State or States in which it is 
incorporated and subject to the laws of such State or States. 
OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF CORPORATION 
36 use 3703. 
SEC. 3. The objects and purposes of the corporation are those 
provided in its articles of incorporation and, for the purpose of 
perpetuating the memories of the fathers of the Daughters of Union 
Veterans of the Civil War 1861-1865, their loyalty to the Union, and 
their unselfish sacrifices for the preservation of the same, shall 
include the following: 
(1) Encouraging the preservation of historic sites and the 
construction and preservation of monuments commemorating 
any aspect of the Civil War. 
(2) Building and maintaining a Museum of Civil War History, 
admission to which shall be free and open to the public, in the 
city of Springfield, Illinois, as a repository of Civil War docu-
ments, artifacts, and cultural relics. 
(3) Maintaining a library in connection with the Civil War 
museum, admission to which shall be open to the public, 
containing the official volumes of the War of the Rebellion 
Records, Civil War genealogical files. Adjutant General reports 
of the various States, military and biographical records and 
accounts of the individual service of Union soldiers, sailors, and 
marines, diaries, letters, relics, and other records. 
(4) Promulgating and teaching American history, particularly 
the history of the Civil War period, through the establishment 
of scholarship programs at the National and State levels, the 
presentation of American flags to youth groups and newly 
naturalized citizens, and the sponsorship of contests of edu-
cational merit. 
Voluntarism. 
(5) Caring for veterans of all wars through volunteer pro-
grams in Veterans' Administration medical centers and in 
PUBLIC LAW 99-172—DEC. 9, 1985 
99 STAT. 1021 
homes and other institutions maintained by the States for the 
welfare of American veterans. 
(6) Participating, in a spirit of cooperation and reciprocity, in 
programs with other societies devoted to American history, 
veterans' affairs, or community interests. 
The corporation shall function as a veterans' and patriotic organiza-
tion as authorized by the laws of the State or States in which it is 
incorporated. 
SERVICE OF PROCESS 
SEC. 4. With respect to service of process, the corporation shall 
36 use 3704. 
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 
36 use 3705. 
rights and privileges of members of the corporation shall be as 
provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation. 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS; COMPOSITION; RESPONSIBIUTIES 
SEC. 6. The composition of the board of directors of the corporation 
36 use 3706. 
and the responsibilities of such board shall be as provided in the 
articles of incorporation of the corporation and in conformity with 
the laws of the State or States in which it is incorporated. 
OFFICERS OF CORPORATION 
SEC. 7. The positions of officers of the corporation and the election 
36 use 3707. 
of members to such positions shall be as provided in the articles of 
incorporation of the corporation and in conformity with the laws of 
the State or States in which it is incorporated. 
RESTRICTIONS 
SEC. 8. (a) No part of the income or assets of the corporation may 
36 use 3708. 
inure to the benefit of any member, officer, or director of the 
corporation or be distributed to any such individual during the life 
of this charter. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
prevent the pajnuent of reasonable compensation to the officers of 
the corporation or reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses 
in amounts approved by the board of directors. 
(b) The corporation may not make any loan to any officer, direc-
tor, or employee of the corporation. 
(cXl) The corporation may not contribute to, support, or otherwise 
participate in any political activity or attempt in any manner to 
influence legislation. 
(2) No officer or director of the corporation, acting as such officer 
or director, may commit any act prohibited under paragraph (1) of 
this subsection. 
(d) The corporation shall have no power to issue any shares of 
stock nor to declare or pay any dividends. 
(e) The corporation shall not claim congressional approval or the 
authorization of the Federal Government for any of its activities. 
99 STAT. 1022 
PUBLIC LAW 99-172—DEC. 9, 1985 
UABILTTY 
36 use 3709. 
SEC. 9. The corporation shall be liable for the acts of its officers 
and agents whenever such officers and agents have acted within the 
scope of their authority. 
BOOKS 
AND 
RECORDS; 
INSPECTION 
36 use 3710. 
SEC. 10. The corporation shall keep correct and complete books 
and records of account and minutes of any proceeding of the cor-
poration involving any of its members, the board of directors, or any 
committee having authority under the board of directors. The cor-
poration shall keep, at its principal office, a record of the names and 
addresses of all members having the right to vote in any proceeding 
of the corporation. All books and records of such corporation may be 
inspected by any member having the right to vote in any corpora-
tion proceeding, or by any agent or attorney of such member, for 
any proper purpose at any reasonable time. Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to contravene any applicable State law. 
AUDIT OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 
SEC. 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 (36 U.S.C. 1101), is amended by 
adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(70) Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861-
1865.". 
ANNUAL REPORT 
36 use 3711. 
SEC. 12. The corporation shall report annually to the Congress 
concerning the activities of the corporation during the preceding 
fiscal year. Such annual report shall be submitted at the same time 
as the report of the audit required by section 11 of this Act. The 
report shall not be printed as a public document. 
RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO AMEND OR REPEAL CHARTER 
eongress. 
SEC. 13. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly 
36 use 3712. 
reserved to the Congress. 
DEFINITION OF "STATE" 
36 use 3713. 
SEC 14. For purposes of this Act, the term "State" includes the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories 
and possessions of the United States. 
TAX-EXEMPT STATUS 
36 use 3714. 
SEC 15. The corporation shall maintain its status as an organiza-
tion exempt from taxation as provided in the Internal Revenue Code 
PUBLIC LAW 99-172—DEC. 9, 1985 
99 STAT. 1023 
of 1954. If the corporation fails to maintain such status, the charter 
26 U
S
C i et seq. 
granted by this Act shall expire. 
TERMINATION 
SEC. 16. If the corporation shall fail to comply with any of the 36 use 3715. 
restrictions or provisions of this Act, the charter granted by this Act 
shall expire. 
Approved December 9, 1985. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1806: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 99-70 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
SENATE REPORT No. 99-179 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): 
May 13, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 21, considered and passed Senate.