2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 35. Corporations, Partnerships, and Associations › Chapter 2. Nonprofit Corporations › Part 1. General › 35-2-118. General powers

35-2-118. General powers.
(1) Unless its articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a corporation has perpetual duration and succession in its corporate name and has the same powers as an individual to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out its affairs including, without limitation, power:
(a) to sue and be sued, complain, and defend in its corporate name;
(b) to have a corporate seal, which may be altered at will, and to use it or a facsimile of the seal by impressing, affixing, or in any other manner reproducing it;
(c) to make and amend bylaws, consistent with its articles of incorporation or with the laws of this state, for regulating and managing the affairs of the corporation;
(d) to purchase, receive, lease, or otherwise acquire and to own, hold, improve, use, and otherwise deal with real or personal property or any legal or equitable interest in property, wherever located;
(e) to sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property;
(f) to purchase, receive, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire any other entity; to own, hold, vote, use, sell, mortgage, lend, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any other entity; and to deal in and with shares or other interests in or obligations of any other entity;
(g) to make contracts and guaranties; to incur liabilities; to borrow money; to issue notes, bonds, and other obligations; and to secure any of its obligations by mortgage or pledge of any of its property, franchises, or income;
(h) to lend money, invest and reinvest its funds, and receive and hold real and personal property as security for repayment, except as limited by 35-2-435;
(i) to be a promoter, partner, member, associate, or manager of any partnership, joint venture, trust, or other entity;
(j) to conduct its activities, locate offices, and exercise the powers granted by this chapter in the state or out of the state;
(k) to elect or appoint directors, officers, employees, and agents of the corporation; to define their duties; and to fix their compensation;
(l) to pay pensions and establish pension plans, pension trusts, and other benefit and incentive plans for any or all of its current or former directors, officers, employees, and agents;
(m) to make donations consistent with law for the public welfare or for charitable, religious, scientific, or educational purposes and for other purposes that further the corporate interest;
(n) to impose dues, assessments, admission, and transfer fees upon its members;
(o) to establish conditions for admission of members, admit members, and issue memberships;
(p) to carry on a business;
(q) to serve as trustee of any trust in which it is expressly designated under the terms of the trust as having a present or future beneficial interest, vested or contingent; or
(r) to do all things necessary or convenient consistent with law to further the activities and affairs of the corporation.
(2) A corporation may not have or issue shares of stock.
History: En. Sec. 29, Ch. 411, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 145, Ch. 264, L. 2013.