A bill to incorporate the United States Capitol Historical Society.
PL 95-493 (H.R.11035), enacted 10/20/1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-493—OCT. 20, 1978 
92 STAT. 1643 
Public Law 95-493 
95th Congress 
An Act 
Oct. 20, 1978 
[H.R. 11035] 
United States 
Capitol Historical 
Society, 
incorporation. 
36 u s e 1201. 
To incorporate the United States Capitol Historical Society, 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress asserribled^ That the following 
persons: 
Honorable Fred Schwengel, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Honorable Marguerite Stitt Church, Evanston, Illinois; 
Doctor Melvin M. Payne, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Carl Haverlin, J^Torthridge, California; 
Doctor Walter Rundell, College Park, Maryland; 
Victor M. Birely, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Arthur B. Hanson, Esquire, Washington, District of Columbia; 
Mrs. Adlai Stevenson III, Hanover, Illinois; 
Mrs. Florian Thayn, Washington, District of Columbia; 
and their successors are hereby created and declared to be a body cor-
porate of the District of Columbia having the name "United States 
Capitol Historical Society" (hereinafter the corporation"). The said 
corporation shall have perpetual existence and the powers, limitations, 
and restrictions herein contained. 
COMPLETION OF ORGANIZATION 
SEC. 2. The persons named in the first section of this Act are 36 USC 1202. 
authorized to complete the organization of the corporation by the selec-
tion of officers and employees, the adoption of a constitution and 
bylaws, not inconsistent with this Act, and the doing of such other 
acts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OP CORPORATION 
SEC. 3. The objects and purposes of the corporation shall be— 
36 USC 1203. 
(a) to encourage in the most comprehensive and enlightened 
manner an understanding by the American people of the found-
ing, growth, and significance of the Capitol of the United States 
of America as the tangible symbol of their representative form of 
government; 
(b) to undertake research into the history of the Congress and 
the Capitol and to promote the discussion, publication, and dis-
semination of the results of such studies; 
(c) to foster and increase an informed patriotism of the land 
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in the study of this living memorial to the founders of this Nation 
and the continuing thread of principles as exemplified by their 
successors; and 
(d) to mutually cooperate with the standing committees of the 
Congress, the Library of Congress, the Architect of the Capitol, 
and relevant departments and agencies of the executive branch 
of the Federal Government in fiirthering the objectives of the 
corporation. 
92 STAT, 1644 
PUBLIC LAW 95-493—OCT. 20, 1978 
POWERS OF THE CORPORATION 
36 use 1204. 
SEC. 4. The corporation shall have the power— 
(a) to sue and be sued, complain, and defend in any court of 
competent jurisdiction; 
, 
(b) to adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal; 
(c) to choose officers, managers, and agents as the business of 
the corporation may require; 
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(d) to charge and collect membership dues; 
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(e) to adopt, amend, apply, and alter a constitution and bylaws 
not inconsistent with the laws of the United States of America or 
any State in which the corporation is to operate, for the manage-
ment of its property and the regulation of its affairs; 
(f) to contract and be contracted with; 
(g) to take hold by lease, gift, purchase, grant, devise, bequest, 
or otherwise any property, real, personal, or mixed, necessary or 
convenient for attaining the objects of the corporation, subject, 
however, to applicable provisions of law of any State (1) govern-
ing the amount or kind of real and personal property which may 
be held by, or (2) otherwise limiting or controlling the owner-
ship or real and personal property which may be held by, or (3) 
otherwise limiting or controlling the ownership of real and per-
sonal property by, a corporation operating in such State; 
(h) to transfer, lease, or convey real or personal property; 
(i) to borrow money for the purposes of the corporation and 
issue bonds or other evidences of indebtedness therefor and secure 
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the same mortgage or pledge subject to applicable Federal or 
State laws; 
(j) to conduct campaigns for raising of funds and to accept con-
tributions from individuals, corporations, and other bodies, 
foundations, and organizations; 
(k) to print, to create and distribute commemorative medals, 
edit and publish, make, display, and sell books and magazines, 
. ;. 
pictures, slides, and cinemas, as may be necessary or desirable for 
the accomplishment of the purposes of the corporation; 
(1) to buy, sell, and generally deal in appropriate and related 
souvenirs, commemorative medals, curios, momentos, and publi-
cations; and 
(m) to do any and all acts necessary and proper to carry out 
the purposes of the corporation. 
PRINCIPAL O F F I C E ; TERRITORIAL SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES; RESIDENT AGENT 
36 use 1205. 
SEC. 5. (a) The principal office of the corporation shall be located 
in Washington, District of Columbia, or in such other place as may 
later be determined by the board of directors, but the activities of the 
corporation shall not be confined to that place and may be conducted 
throughout the various possessions of the United States. 
(b) The corporation shall have in the District of Columbia at all 
times a designated agent authorized to accept service of process for 
the corporation, and notice to or service upon such agent or mailed 
to the business address of such agent shall be deemed as service or 
notice upon the corporation. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-493—OCT. 20, 1978 
92 STAT. 1645 
MEMBERSHIP 
SEC. 6. Eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights 36 USC 1206. 
and privileges of members shall, except as provided in this Act, be 
determined as the constitution and bylaws of the corporation may 
provide. 
ACTIVE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 
SEC. 7. (a) The control and management of the affairs and funds 36 USC 1207. 
of the corporation shall be vested in its active board of trustees which, 
exclusive of ex officio and honorary members, shall consist of not more 
than forty active members and not less than twelve active members, 
one of whom shall be elected chairman. 
(b) The term of an active trustee of the board shall be four years 
in duration and, except by the unanimous vote of the members of the 
board of trustees present and voting, no active trustee may be reelected 
as an active trustee until after a lapse of one year from the expiration 
of his term as active trustee. 
(c) The board of trustees shall meet not less than once annually in 
the Capitol of the United States at Washington, District of Colum- 
' ' 
bia, and at such other times as may be determined by the chairman. 
No meeting of the board of trustees may be held except pursuant to 
a time and place stated in the bylaws or upon thirty days written 
notice in advance of any such meeting. 
(d) Trustees of the corporation shall be elected by action of the 
active board of trustees. Trustees may be removed by the vote of two-
thirds of the other active trustees at any time with or without cause. 
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION 
SEC. 8. (a) The officers of the corporation shall be a president, who 36 USC 1208. 
shall be the chief executive officer, five vice presidents, a treasurer, 
and a secretary. 
(b) During their respective terms of office, the officers of the corpo-
ration shall be ex officio members of the board with all the rights and 
privileges of a trustee including the right to vote. Officers may receive 
compensation or other remuneration for their services as determined 
by the board of trustees, and they may be reimbursed for their actual 
expenses. 
(c) Officers of the corporation shall be elected annually by action 
, ;;, ; 
of the board of trustees and shall continue in office at the pleasure of 
the board. 
(d) The duties of the officers of the corporation shall be such as 
usually pertain to the offices they hold and also shall include such addi-
tional duties as may be delegated by the board of trustees. 
4 
(e) The board of trustees may employ an executive secretary and 
such other paid personnel as may be needed to assist the officers and the 
board and to accomplish the programs and business of the corpora-
tion. The board shall fix the compensation and prescribe the duties of 
the executive secretary and such other paid personnel who shall serve 
at the pleasure of the board. 
92 STAT. 1646 
PUBLIC LAW 95-493—OCT. 20, 1978 
USE OF I N C O M E : LOANS TO OFFICERS, TRUSTEES, OR EMPLOYEES 
36 use 1209. 
SEC. 9. (a) No part of the income or assets of the Corporation shall 
inure to any of its members, trustees, or officers, as such, or be dis-
tributable to any of them during the life of the corporation or upon 
its dissolution or final liquidation. Nothing in this subsection, how-
ever, shall be construed to prevent the payment of reasonable 
compensation to officers or employees of the corporation or reimburse-
ment for actual expenses in amounts approved by the board of trustees 
of the corporation. 
(b) The corporation shall not make loans to its officers, trustees, 
or employees. Any director who votes for or assents to the making 
of a loan or advance to an officer, director, or employee of the corpora-
tion, and any officer who participates in the making of such loan or an 
advance shall be jointly and severally liable to the corporation for the 
amount of such loan or advance until the repayment thereof. 
LIABILITY FOR ACTS OF OFFICERS AND 
AGENTS 
36 use 1210. 
SEC 10. The corporation shall be liable for the acts of its officers 
and agents when acting within the scope of their authority. 
PROHIBITION AGAINST ISSUANCE OF STOCK OR PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS 
36 use 1211. 
SEC 11. The corporation shall have no power to issue any shares 
of stock or to declare or pay any dividends. 
BOOKS AND R E C O R D S : 
INSPECTION 
36 use 1212. 
SEC 12. The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and 
records of account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its 
members, board of trustees, and committees having any authority 
under the board of trustees, and it shall also keep at its principal office 
a record of the names and addresses of its members entitled to vote. 
All books and records of the corporation may be inspected by any 
member entitled to vote, or the agent or attorney of such member, for 
any proper purpose, at any reasonable time. 
AUDIT OF FINANCIAL 
TRANSACTIONS 
36 use 1213. 
SEC 13. (a) The provisions of sections 2 and 3 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. 
1102, 1103), shall apply with respect to the corporation. 
(b) The corporation shall comply with the provisions of Public 
40 use 193m-l. Law 91-510, section 451, October 26,1970. 
USE OF ASSETS ON DISSOLUTION 
OR 
LIQUIDATION 
36 use 1214, 
SEC 14, Upon dissolution or final liquidation of the corporation, 
after discharge or satisfaction of all outstanding obligations and i 
liabilities, any remaining assets of the corporation shall be distributed 
in accordance with the determination of the board of trustees of thei 
corporation and in compliance with the constitution and bylaws of I 
the corporation and all Federal and State laws applicable thereto. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-493—OCT. 20, 1978 
92 STAT. 1647 
EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO NAME, EMBLEM, SEALS, AND INSIGNIA 
SEC. 16. The corporation shall have the sole and exclusive right to 31 USC 1215. 
the name "United States Capitol Historical Society" and to have and 
use in carrying out its purpose, distinctive insignia, emblems, seals, 
descriptive or designating marks, and words or phrases, as may be 
required in the furtherance of its functions. Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to interfere or conflict with estaWished or vested 
rights. 
ACQUISITION OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF EXISTING CORPORATION 
SEC. 16. The corporation may acquire the assets of the United States 31 USC 1216. 
Capitol Historical Society, a corporation incorporated under the laws 
of the District of Columbia. The United States Capitol Historical 
Society shall retain and maintain its existing status as a corporation 
incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia or a State. 
ANNUAL REPORT 
SEC. 17. The corporation shall, as soon as practicable after the end Submittal to 
of each fiscal year, submit a report to each House of the Congress with Congress, 
respect to the activities of the corporation during the preceding fiscal 31 USC 1217. 
year. 
RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO AMEND OR REPEAL ACT 
SEC. 18. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly 31 USC 1218. 
reserved to the Congress. 
Approved October 20, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1638 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
Oct. 2, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 5, considered and passed Senate.