Federal Charter

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The United States Code is the official, subject matter order, compilation of the Federal laws of a general and permanent nature that are currently in force. The Code is compiled by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the United States House of Representatives. The Code is divided into 50 titles by subject matter. Each title is divided into sections. Sections within a title may be grouped together as subtitles, chapters, subchapters, parts, subparts, or divisions. Titles may also have appendices which may be divided into sections, rules and/or forms. We cite here sections from the U.S. Code Title 36.

Excerpts from the Federal Charter

(The full charter can be found at the U.S. House of Representatives.)


United States Code

TITLE 36 - PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS

Subtitle II - Patriotic and National Organizations

Part B - Organizations

CHAPTER 803 - GIRL SCOUTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

80301. Organization.
80302. Purposes.
80303. Governing body.
80304. Powers.
80305. Exclusive right to emblems, badges, marks, and words.
80306. Restrictions.
80307. Annual report.

Sec. 80301. Organization

  1. Federal Charter. - Girl Scouts of the United States of America (in this chapter, the ''corporation'') is a body corporate and politic of the District of Columbia.
  2. Domicile. - The domicile of the corporation is the District of Columbia.
  3. Perpetual Existence. - Except as otherwise provided, the corporation has perpetual existence.

Sec. 80302. Purposes

The purposes of the corporation are -

  1. to promote the qualities of truth, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, purity, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thriftiness, and kindred virtues among girls, as a preparation for their responsibilities in the home and for service to the community;
  2. to direct and coordinate the Girl Scout movement in the United States and territories and possessions of the United States; and
  3. to fix and maintain standards for the movement that will inspire the rising generation with the highest ideals of character, patriotism, conduct, and attainment.

Sec. 80303. Governing body

  1. National Council. -
    1. There shall be a National Council of Girl Scouts. The number, qualifications, and term of office of members of the Council are as provided in the constitution of the corporation, except that members of the Council must be citizens of the United States.
    2. The Council may adopt and amend a constitution and bylaws and elect a board of directors, officers, and agents.
    3. The constitution may prescribe the number of members of the Council necessary for a quorum. That number may be less than a majority of the entire Council.
    4. Meetings of the Council shall be held as provided in the constitution to hold elections and receive reports of the officers and board of directors. Special meetings may be called as provided in the constitution.
  2. Board of Directors. -
    1. To the extent provided in the constitution and bylaws, the board of directors shall have the powers of the Council and manage the activities of the corporation between meetings of the Council. The number, qualifications, and term of office of directors are as provided in the constitution.
    2. The constitution may prescribe the number of directors necessary for a quorum. That number shall be at least 20 or two-fifths of the entire board.
  3. Executive and Other Committees. - The bylaws may provide for -
    1. an executive committee to carry out the powers of the board of directors between meetings of the board; and
    2. other committees to operate under the general supervision of the board of directors.
  4. Location of Meetings and Records. - The Council and the board of directors may hold meetings and keep the seal and records of the corporation in or outside the District of Columbia.

Sec. 80304. Powers

The corporation may -

  1. adopt and amend a constitution, bylaws, and regulations, including regulations for the election of associates and successors;
  2. adopt and alter a seal;
  3. have offices and conduct its activities in the District of Columbia and in the States, territories, and possessions of the United States;
  4. acquire, own, lease, encumber, and transfer property, and use any income from the property, as necessary to carry out the purposes of the corporation;
  5. sue and be sued within the jurisdiction of the United States; and
  6. do any other act necessary to carry out this chapter and the purposes of the corporation.

Sec. 80305. Exclusive right to emblems, badges, marks, and words

The corporation has the exclusive right to use all emblems and badges, descriptive or designating marks, and words or phrases the corporation adopts, including the badge of the Girl Scouts, Incorporated, referred to in the Act of August 12, 1937 (ch. 590, 50 Stat. 623), and to authorize their use, during the life of the corporation, in connection with the manufacture, advertisement, and sale of equipment and merchandise. This section does not affect any vested rights.

Sec. 80306. Restrictions

  1. Profit. - The corporation may not operate for profit.
  2. Political Activities. - The corporation shall be nonpolitical and nonsectarian.

Sec. 80307. Annual report

Not later than April 1 of each year, the corporation shall submit a report to Congress on the activities of the corporation during the prior fiscal year. The report shall be printed each year, with accompanying illustrations, as a separate House document of the session of the Congress to which the report is submitted.

Approved March 16, 1950

NOTE:  Chapter 309, Sections 80301-80307 were formerly Chapter 2A, Sections 31-39.


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