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Corporate Bylaws

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How does a company adopt its Bylaws?The company's Corporate Bylaws may be adopted at its organizational meeting, or later by a resolution of the shareholders.

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BYLAWS OF ____________________
(the "Corporation")

  1. SHAREHOLDERS

  2. Annual Meeting
  3. A meeting of the Shareholders of the Corporation (the "Shareholders") will be held annually for the purpose of electing directors (the "Directors") of the Corporation and for the purpose of doing other business as may come before the meeting. If the day fixed for the annual meeting is a legal holiday in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the annual meeting will be held on the next succeeding business day or on a date determined by the board of directors for the Corporation (the "Board") that is no later than two weeks after the date specified in the meeting notice.
  4. The Corporation must hold its annual meeting within 15 months of the organization of the Corporation or its last annual meeting. If the annual meeting is not held within that time period then any shareholder entitled to participate in the meeting may apply to the circuit court of the city or county where the Corporation's principal office, or, if none in Virginia, its registered office, is located, to fix the time and place of the meeting.
  5. Special Meetings
  6. Unless otherwise prescribed by statute, special meetings of the Shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, may only be called in the following ways:
    1. By a majority of the Board; or
    2. By the president of the Corporation (the "President"); or
    3. By the holders of shares entitled to cast in total not less than 10 percent of the votes on any issue proposed for the meeting where written requests describing the purpose or purposes for the special meeting are signed, dated and delivered to a member of the Board or other Officer of the Corporation.
  7. The Board will determine the time, place and date of any special meeting provided that, in the case of a special meeting called by the requisite percentage of Shareholders in accordance with these Bylaws, the Board will issue notice of the special meeting within 30 days of receipt of the written demand(s) by the relevant Officer of the Corporation.
  8. Place of Meeting
  9. The annual meetings or special meetings of the Shareholders may be held at any place in or out of the Commonwealth of Virginia at a place to be determined at the discretion of the Board. If no designation of the location is made for any annual or special meeting of the Shareholders, the place of the meeting will be the Registered Office of the Corporation in Virginia. The Corporation must hold its annual meeting within the earlier of: a) six months after the end of the Corporation's fiscal year or; b) fifteen months after its last annual meeting. If an annual meeting is not held within that time period, a Shareholder may direct a request in writing to the Chairman of the Board of the Corporation to hold the annual meeting. If a notice of meeting is not given within 60 days of that request then any Shareholder entitled to vote at an annual meeting may apply to any court having jurisdiction for an order directing that the meeting be held and fixing the time and place of the meeting.
  10. Notice of Meetings
  11. The written notice of any meeting will be given not less than 10 days, but not more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote at that meeting. The written notice of the meeting will state the place, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
  12. If mailed, notice is given when the notice is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and directed to the Shareholder at the address of the Shareholder as it appears on the records of the Corporation. An affidavit of the secretary (the "Secretary") of the Corporation that the notice has been given will, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the notice.
  13. A written waiver, signed by the person entitled to a notice of meeting, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to that notice, whether before or after the time stated in the notice, will be deemed equivalent to the person receiving the notice. Further, attendance of a person at a meeting will constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
  14. Consent of Shareholders in Lieu of Meeting
  15. Any action to be taken at any annual or special meeting of Shareholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action to be taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote on the matter were present and voted is delivered to the Corporation. Every written consent will bear the date of signature of each Shareholder who signs the consent. However, no written consent will be effective unless the consent is delivered, either by hand or by certified or registered mail, within 90 days of the earliest dated consent, to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records.
  16. Remote Communication Meetings
  17. Remote communication means any electronic communication including conference telephone, video conference, or any other method or forum currently available or developed in the future by which Shareholders not present in the same physical location may simultaneously communicate with each other.
  18. Where permitted under the statutes and regulations of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and in the sole and reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors, a meeting of Shareholders of the Corporation may be held at a specific location or may be held by any means of remote communication. Where a meeting will employ remote communication, one or more Shareholders may participate by means of remote communication or the meeting may be held solely by means of remote communication at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. Where any remote communication is used in a Shareholder meeting, all persons authorized to vote or take other action at the meeting must be able to hear each other during the meeting and each person will have a reasonable opportunity to participate. This remote participation in a meeting will constitute presence in person at the meeting. All votes or other actions taken at the meeting by means of electronic transmission must be maintained as a matter of record by the Corporation.
  19. List of Shareholders Entitled to Vote
  20. The Officer who has charge of the Shareholders' List of the Corporation will prepare and make, the day before notice of meeting of the Shareholders is sent, a complete list of the Shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each Shareholder and the number of shares of stock registered in the name of each Shareholder. The list must be available for inspection by any Shareholder beginning ten days prior to the meeting and continuing through the meeting. The list must be provided for any purpose related to the meeting:
    1. On a reasonably accessible electronic network, so long as the information required to access the list is provided with the notice of the meeting; or
    2. During ordinary business hours, at the Registered Office of the Corporation or at its Principal Office or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar.
  21. If the Corporation decides to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation will ensure that this information is available only to Shareholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a physical location, then the list will be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time of the meeting and may be inspected by any Shareholder who is present.
  22. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list will also be open to the examination of any Shareholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access the list will be provided with the notice of the meeting.
  23. If any Director willfully neglects or refuses to produce the list of Shareholders at any meeting for the election of Directors, or to open such a list to examination on a reasonably accessible electronic network during any meeting for the election of Directors held solely by means of remote communication, those Directors will be ineligible for election to any office at that meeting.
  24. The Shareholders' List will be the only evidence as to who are the Shareholders entitled by this section to examine the list required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of Shareholders.
  25. Quorum and Required Vote
  26. A minimum of 51 percent of the shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum entitled to take action at a meeting of Shareholders.
  27. In all matters other than the election of Directors, any act of the Shareholders must be passed by an affirmative vote of the majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter.
  28. Directors will be elected by a majority of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of Directors.
  29. Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series of shares ("Eligible Shares") is required, 51 percent of the outstanding Eligible Shares present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Any act to be taken must be passed by an affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding Eligible Shares present in person or represented by proxy.
  30. Shareholders Voting Rights and Proxies
  31. Subject to the Articles of Incorporation, each Shareholder will be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by that Shareholder.
  32. Each Shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of Shareholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for that Shareholder by proxy, but no proxy will be valid after 11 months from the date of its execution unless the proxy provides for a longer period.
  33. Execution of a proxy may be accomplished by the Shareholder or by the authorized Officer, Director, employee or agent of the Shareholder, signing the writing or causing that person's signature to be affixed to the writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
  34. A duly executed proxy will be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the shares or an interest in the Corporation generally.
  35. Voting Rights of Fiduciaries, Pledgers and Joint Owners of Shares
  36. Persons holding shares in a fiduciary capacity will be entitled to vote the shares so held. Persons whose shares are pledged will be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledger on the books of the Corporation, that person has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote the shares, in which case only the pledgee, or that pledgee's proxy, may represent and vote the shares.
  37. Voting Trusts and Other Voting Agreements
  38. Two or more Shareholders may, by agreement in writing, create a voting trust by depositing their shares with a voting trustee, who will have the authority to vote the shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the voting trust agreement. To be valid, the voting trustee must deliver copies of the list of Shareholders and the voting trust agreement to the Principal Office of the Corporation. Upon receiving the voting trust agreement, the Corporation will issue new share certificates in the name of the trustee and cancel the old share certificates. The new share certificates issued will state that they are issued pursuant to a voting trust agreement.
  39. Any amendment to a voting trust agreement will be made by a written agreement, a copy of which will be filed with the Principal Office of the Corporation.
  40. The right of inspection of any voting trust agreement or related amendment by a Shareholder of record or a holder of a voting trust certificate, in person or by agent, will be the same right of inspection that applies to the securities register of the Corporation.
  41. An agreement between two or more Shareholders, if in writing and signed by the parties to the agreement, may provide that in exercising any voting rights, the shares held by them will be voted as provided by the agreement, or as the parties may agree, or as determined in accordance with a procedure agreed upon by them.
  42. The above provisions concerning voting trusts and voting agreements will not be deemed to invalidate any voting or other agreement among Shareholders or any irrevocable proxy which is not otherwise illegal.
  43. Cumulative Voting
  44. Shareholders may use cumulative voting elections when electing Directors.

  45. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  46. General Powers
  47. The business and affairs of the Corporation will be managed by or under the direction of the Board.
  48. Number, Tenure and Quorum
  49. The Board will consist of one member, who will be a natural person. Directors need not be Shareholders. The Director will hold office for a one-year term from the date of election by the Shareholders or until that Director's earlier resignation or removal. Any Director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. In order to transact business at a meeting of the Directors, a quorum of 100 percent of the total number of Directors eligible to vote will be required. The vote of the majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be the act of the Board.
  50. Each one-year term may be renewed any number of times by the Shareholders and there is no limit to the number of terms which may be served by any one Director.

  51. Regular Meetings
  52. By resolution, the Board may provide the time and place, either within or without the Commonwealth of Virginia, for the holding of regular meetings without any notice other than that resolution.
  53. Special Meetings
  54. Special meetings of the Board may be called by or at the request of the President or by a majority of the Directors. The person or persons calling that special meeting of the Board may fix any date, time or place, either within or without the Commonwealth of Virginia, to be the date, time and place for holding that special meeting.
  55. Notice
  56. Reasonable written notice of the date, time, and place of a special meeting of the Board will be given prior to the date set for that meeting. The written notice can be given personally, by mail, by private carrier, by telegraph, by telephone facsimile, or by any other manner as permitted by the Virginia Stock Corporation Act. The notice will be given by the Secretary or one of the persons authorized to call Directors' meetings.
  57. If written notice is mailed, correctly addressed to a Director's address as provided in the Corporation's current records, the notice will be deemed to have been given to that Director at the time of mailing. If written notice is sent by private carrier or if the written notice is sent by United States mail, postage prepaid and by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, the notice will be deemed to have been given to a Director on the date shown on the return receipt. Otherwise notice is effective when received by a Director.
  58. Notice of any Directors' meeting may be waived by a Director before or after the date and time of the meeting. The waiver must be in writing, must be signed by a Director, and must be delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. The attendance of a Director at a meeting of the Board will constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully convened.
  59. Action by Directors Without a Meeting
  60. Any action to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee of the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent to it in writing, or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board, or committee. This filing will be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and will be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
  61. Remote Communication Meetings
  62. Remote communication means any electronic communication including conference telephone, video conference, or any other method or forum currently available or developed in the future by which Directors not present in the same physical location may simultaneously communicate with each other.
  63. A meeting of the Board may be held by any means of remote communication by which all persons authorized to vote or take other action at the meeting can hear each other during the meeting and each person has a reasonable opportunity to participate. This remote participation in a meeting will constitute presence in person at the meeting.
  64. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships
  65. When vacancies or newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors occur, a majority of the Directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or a sole remaining Director will have the power to appoint new Directors to fill this vacancy or vacancies. Each new Director so chosen will hold office until the next annual meeting of the Shareholders.
  66. If at any time, by reason of death or resignation or other cause, the Corporation should have no Directors in office, then any Officer or any Shareholder or an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of a Shareholder, or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of a Shareholder, may call a special meeting of Shareholders for an election to fill the vacancy.
  67. When one or more Directors resign from the Board and the resignation is to become effective at a future date, a majority of the Directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, will have the power to appoint new Directors to fill this vacancy or vacancies. The appointments of these new Directors will take effect when the resignation or resignations are to become effective, and each new Director so chosen will hold office until the next annual meeting of the Shareholders.
  68. Removal
  69. Any Director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of Directors at a special meeting of the Shareholders called for that purpose. No director may be removed when the votes cast against removal would be sufficient to elect the director if voted cumulatively at an election where the same total number of votes were cast.
  70. Organization
  71. Meetings of the Board will be presided over by the President, or in the President's absence by a Director chosen at the meeting. The Secretary will act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary, the person presiding at the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
  72. Chair of the Board
  73. The Chair of the Board, if present, will preside at all meetings of the Board, and exercise and perform any other authorities and duties as may be from time to time delegated by the Board.
  74. Compensation
  75. The Board will, by resolution, fix the fees and other compensation for the Directors for their services as Directors, including their services as members of committees of the Board. All changes to Director compensation are subject to ratification by the Shareholders.
  76. Presumption of Assent
  77. A Director of the Corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board will be presumed to have assented to an action taken on any corporate matter at the meeting unless:
    1. The Director objects at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon the Director's arrival, to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting;
    2. The Director's dissent or abstention from the action taken is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or
    3. The Director delivers written notice of the Director's dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before the adjournment of the meeting or to the Corporation within a reasonable time after adjournment of the meeting.
  78. Any right to dissent or abstain from the action will not apply to a Director who voted in favor of that action.

  79. COMMITTEES

  80. Appointment
  81. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.
  82. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not that member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member.
  83. The committee or committees, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board will have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. No such committee will have the power or authority in reference to the following matters:
    1. Approving or adopting, or recommending to the Shareholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of Directors) expressly required by the Virginia Stock Corporation Act to be submitted to Shareholders for approval; or
    2. Adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the Corporation.
  84. Tenure
  85. Each member of a committee will serve at the pleasure of the Board.
  86. Meetings and Notice
  87. The method by which Directors' meetings may be called and the notice requirements for these meetings as set out in these Bylaws will apply to any committee designated by the Board as appropriate.
  88. Quorum
  89. The requirements for a quorum for the Board as set out in these Bylaws will apply to any committee designated by the Board as appropriate.
  90. Action Without a Meeting
  91. The requirements and procedures for actions without a meeting for the Board as set out in these Bylaws will apply to any committee designated by the Board as appropriate.
  92. Resignation and Removal
  93. Any member of a committee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by a resolution adopted by a majority of the full Board. Any member of a committee may resign from the committee at any time by giving written notice to the Chair of the Board of the Corporation, and unless otherwise specified in the notice, the acceptance of this resignation will not be necessary to make it effective.
  94. Vacancies
  95. Any vacancy in a committee may be filled by a resolution adopted by a majority of the full Board.
  96. Committee Rules of Procedure
  97. A committee will elect a presiding officer from its members and may fix its own rules of procedure provided they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws. A committee will keep regular minutes of its proceedings, and report those minutes to the Board at the first subsequent meeting of the Board.

  98. OFFICERS

  99. Appointment of Officers
  100. The Officers of the Corporation (individually the "Officer" and collectively the "Officers") will consist of the President, a treasurer (the "Treasurer"), and the Secretary.
  101. The Officers will be appointed by the Board at the first meeting of the Directors or as soon after the first meeting of the Directors as possible, if Officers have not already been appointed. Any appointee may hold one or more offices.
  102. Term of Office
  103. Each Officer will hold office until a successor is duly appointed and qualified or until the Officer's death or until the Officer resigns or is removed as provided in these Bylaws.
  104. Removal
  105. Any Officer or agent appointed by the Board or by the Incorporators may be removed by the Board at any time with or without cause, provided, however, any contractual rights of that person, if any, will not be prejudiced by the removal.
  106. Vacancies
  107. The Board may fill a vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise.
  108. President
  109. Subject to the control and supervisory powers of the Board and its delegate, the powers and duties of the President will be:
    1. To have the general management and supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation;
    2. To preside at all meetings of the Shareholders when the Chair of the Board is absent;
    3. To call meetings of the Shareholders to be held at such times and at such places as the President will deem proper within the limitations prescribed by law or by these Bylaws;
    4. To ensure that all orders and resolutions of the Board are effectively carried out;
    5. To maintain records of and certify, whenever necessary, all proceedings of the Board and the  and the Shareholders;
    6. To put the signature of the Corporation to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board or which, in the opinion of the President, should be executed on behalf of the Corporation; to sign certificates for the Corporation's shares; and, subject to the instructions of the Board, to have general charge of the property of the Corporation and to supervise and manage all Officers, agents and employees of the Corporation; and
    7. To perform all other duties and carry out other responsibilities as determined by the Board.
  110. Treasurer
  111. Subject to the control and supervisory powers of the Board and its delegate, the powers and duties of the Treasurer will be:
    1. To keep accurate financial records for the Corporation;
    2. To deposit all money, drafts and checks in the name of and to the credit of the Corporation in the banks and depositories designated by the Board;
    3. To endorse for deposit all notes, checks, drafts received by the Corporation as instructed by the Board, making proper vouchers for them;
    4. To disburse corporate funds and issue checks and drafts in the name of the Corporation, as instructed by the Board;
    5. To submit to the President and the Board, as requested, an account of all transactions by the Treasurer and the financial condition of the Corporation;
    6. To prepare and submit to the Board annual reports detailing the financial status of the Corporation; and
    7. To perform all other duties and carry out other responsibilities as prescribed by the Board or the President.
  112. Secretary
  113. The Secretary will perform the following duties:
    1. Prepare the minutes of the meetings of the Shareholders and meetings of the Board and keep those minutes in one or more books provided for that purpose;
    2. Authenticate the records of the Corporation as will from time to time be required;
    3. Ensure that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law;
    4. Act as custodian of the corporate records and of the corporate seal, if any, and ensure that the seal of the Corporation, if any, is affixed to all documents the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized;
    5. Keep a register of the post office address of each Shareholder;
    6. Sign, along with the President, certificates for shares of the Corporation, the issuance of which will have been authorized by resolution of the Board;
    7. Have general charge of the Shareholders' List of the Corporation; and
    8. Perform all duties incidental to the office of Secretary and any other duties as from time to time may be delegated to the Secretary by the President or the Board.
  114. Delegation of Authority
  115. The Board reserves the authority to delegate the powers of any Officer to any other Officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision in these Bylaws.

  116. LOANS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, CONTRACTS

  117. Loans
  118. Without authorization by a resolution of the Board, the Corporation is prohibited from making or accepting loans in its name, or issuing evidences of indebtedness in its name. The authorization of the Board for the Corporation to perform these acts can be general or specific.
  119. Checks, Drafts, Notes
  120. All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation must be signed by a designated Officer or Officers, agent or agents of the Corporation and in a manner as will from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board.
  121. Deposits
  122. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise used will be deposited to the credit of the Corporation in banks, trust companies, or other depositories designated by the Board.
  123. Voting Securities Held by the Corporation
  124. The President, or another Officer or agent designated by the Board will, with full power and authority attend, act, and vote, on behalf of the Corporation, at any meeting of security holders or interest holders of other corporations or entities in which the Corporation may hold securities or interests. At that meeting, the President or other delegated agent will have and execute any and all rights and powers incidental to the ownership of the securities or interests that the Corporation holds.
  125. Contracts
  126. The Board may give authority to any Officer or agent, to make any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of the Corporation and on its behalf, and that authority may be general or specific.
  127. Conflict of Interest by Directors
  128. A Director or Officer of the Corporation will be disqualified from voting as a Director or Officer on a specific matter where that Director or Officer deals or contracts with the Corporation either as a vendor or purchaser.
  129. A Director or Officer of the Corporation will not be disqualified as a Director or Officer for the sole reason that the Director or Officer deals or contracts with the Corporation either as a vendor, purchaser, or otherwise.
  130. Loans to Employees and Officers
  131. The Corporation may lend money to, or guaranty any obligation of, or otherwise assist, any Officer or employee of the Corporation or of its subsidiary, including any Officer or employee who is a Director of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation, whenever, in the opinion of the Directors, the loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board will approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of the Corporation. Nothing contained in this section is to be construed so as to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the Corporation at common law or under any applicable statute.

  • APPENDIX

    Glossary

  • Bylaws - the purpose of these bylaws (the "Bylaws") is to provide rules governing the internal management of the Corporation.
  • Chair of the Board - Once a Board of Directors has been appointed or elected by the Shareholders, the Board will then elect a chairman (the "Chair of the Board"). The Chair of the Board will act to moderate all meetings of the Board of Directors and any other duties and obligations as described in these Bylaws.
  • Corporate Officer - A corporate officer (individually the "Officer" and collectively the "Officers") is any individual acting for or on behalf of the Corporation. An Officer of the Corporation will usually be appointed to a specific task such as secretary, president, treasurer or other similar position. One person may hold several offices. The Officers will manage the day-to-day operations of the Corporation and report to the Board of Directors.
  • Principal Executive Office - The Principal Executive Office for the Corporation is where the President of the Corporation has an office.
  • Principal Office - The Principal Office of the Corporation is the address designated in the annual report where the executive offices of the Corporation are located.
  • Principal Place of Business - The Principal Place of Business is the address at which the Corporation conducts its primary business.
  • Registered Office - The Registered Office is the physical street address within the state where the registered agent can be contacted during normal business hours for service of process.
  • Shareholders' List - A Shareholders' List is the complete record of the owners of shares of stock in the Corporation.

Last updated September 25, 2023

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What are Corporate Bylaws?

Corporate Bylaws, also known as company or business bylaws, are a set of legally binding rules that a corporation writes to guide its internal management. Corporate Bylaws outline company policies, such as:

Which rules should be included in Corporate Bylaws?

There are many decisions to be considered when writing Corporate Bylaws, such as:

  • Company management structure: If the company will have a simple structure (consisting of a president, treasurer, and secretary) or a complex management structure (containing a CEO, CFO, COO, presidents, and vice presidents)
  • Notice for special meetings: The amount of notice needed to call a special meeting, if notice is required
  • Remote meetings: Whether or not directors and shareholders meetings permit the use of remote communication
  • Voting: What percentage of votes constitutes a quorum, if shareholders can form voting trusts, and if cumulative voting is allowed

When do Corporate Bylaws come into effect?

Corporate Bylaws are usually formally adopted by the corporation’s directors at the first Directors' Organizational Meeting.

After forming and agreeing to the bylaws, the rules and procedures outlined in the document will come into effect and begin guiding the company’s internal management. 

Are Corporate Bylaws required by law?

Yes, most states have laws requiring a corporation to have Corporate Bylaws. See this table to find out if your state requires corporations to have Corporate Bylaws:

State Are Corporate Bylaws Required?
Alabama Yes
Alaska Yes
Arizona Yes
Arkansas Yes
California No (CA Corp Code § 213)
Colorado No
Connecticut Yes
Delaware No
District of Columbia (D.C.) Yes
Florida Yes
Georgia Yes
Hawaii Yes
Idaho Yes
Illinois Yes
Indiana Yes
Iowa Yes
Kansas No (KS Stat § 17-6008)
Kentucky Yes
Louisiana No
Maine Yes
Maryland Yes
Massachusetts Yes
Michigan Yes
Minnesota No
Mississippi Yes
Missouri No
Montana Yes
Nebraska Yes
Nevada No
New Hampshire Yes
New Jersey Yes
New Mexico Yes
New York Yes
North Carolina Yes
North Dakota No
Ohio No
Oklahoma No
Oregon Yes
Pennsylvania No (Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute § 1310)
Rhode Island No
South Carolina Yes
South Dakota Yes
Tennessee Yes
Texas Yes
Utah No
Vermont Yes
Virginia Yes
Washington Yes
West Virginia Yes
Wisconsin No
Wyoming Yes

Who can amend Corporate Bylaws?

You may need to amend your Corporate Bylaws from time to time. Corporate regulations and laws occasionally change, as do the corporation’s business needs. It’s essential to update your Corporate Bylaws to reflect these changes.

Directors and shareholders can amend a company’s Corporate Bylaws using a Director's Resolution or a Shareholder's Resolution after voting to pass the changes. Once an amendment has been agreed to in writing, the directors adopt and integrate it into the Corporate Bylaws.

What is the difference between Articles of Incorporation and Corporate Bylaws?

Corporate Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation are both important steps toward initially creating and organizing a corporation. However, they serve very different purposes.

Articles of Incorporation are legal papers that a company files with the Secretary of State to register as a corporation. The articles contain information which is available to the public, such as the name of the corporation and the address of its registered office.

Corporate Bylaws are internal policies that lay out the day-to-day rules and operating procedures for a corporation after it has been formed. These don’t need to be filed with the government as they are a matter of private contract.

Are Corporate Bylaws signed or notarized?

No, Corporate Bylaws don’t need to be signed or notarized. 

Although it isn’t required by law to have the documents signed, having each director sign the document does add to its legitimacy.

Where do I find Corporate Bylaws?

There are a few ways to find a company’s Corporate Bylaws. If you’re a director or shareholder, you’ll have access to the bylaws and likely already have a copy. 

Nonprofit organizations and publicly traded companies make their bylaws available to the public. You can search for a company on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission website to find its bylaws or submit a request directly to the company.

Accessing a private company’s bylaws is a little more challenging if you’re an outsider. You can submit a request, but the private company has the right to deny it. On the other hand, it may be in a company’s best interest to share its bylaws with investors and banks interested in how you run the company.

How do I write Corporate Bylaws?

You can create your Corporate Bylaws by completing LawDepot’s questionnaire. Using our template ensures you complete the following necessary steps.

Step 1: Select your corporation type

This is where you will list your company as a for-profit or a nonprofit. 

Step 2: Describe your incorporation status

Your incorporation status is whether or not your company is recognized as an official corporate entity. This is where you will state if your company is an official corporation or if you’ve filed your articles of incorporation or any other necessary documents required for incorporation.

Step 3: State your location

Start your Corporate Bylaws document by stating in which state your business is incorporated. If your company isn’t incorporated yet, you can choose the state where you plan to incorporate.

Each state has its own Business Corporation Act or equivalent. LawDepot will customize your document to meet your state’s corporate rules and regulations.

Step 4: Provide your corporation’s registered name

Your Corporate Bylaws need to include your corporation’s registered name. 

States have their own rules about naming a corporation. However, many require that a business make it clear that it’s a corporation by including terms like Corporation, Incorporated, and Limited or abbreviations like Co., Corp., Inc., and Ltd. 

You must provide the corporation’s name for both non and for-profit organizations.

Step 5: Outline shareholder meeting rules

Outline the rules that will govern shareholder meetings. For example, determine:

  • The requirements for a quorum
  • Whether remote communication (e.g., phone or video conferences) is an option
  • Whether shareholders can form a trust
  • If cumulative voting is an option when electing directors

This section of LawDepot's template applies to for-profit corporations only.

Requirements for a quorum

A quorum is the minimum percentage of voting shares that need to be present for a shareholders’ meeting to proceed. The shareholders possessing these voting shares can attend in person or by proxy.

If your Corporate Bylaws don’t address quorums, then, by default, a majority of a corporation’s shareholders must be present to hold a meeting.

Voting trusts

A voting trust is where shareholders agree to give their voting shares to a third party called a trustee. The trustee is typically obliged to vote per the desires of the participating shareholders.

Cumulative voting when electing directors

Cumulative voting is an option when voting to elect directors to the board. It allows a minority shareholder to take all the votes they’d typically use in multiple elections and apply them to a single director’s election.

This system prevents a majority shareholder from electing all the Directors of a corporation by allowing a minority shareholder to apply all their cumulative votes to one director.

Step 6: Create rules for board meetings 

Your Corporate Bylaws need to state the following:

  • How many directors the corporation has
  • How long a board term is
  • The requirements for a quorum
  • Whether remote communication (e.g., phone or video conferences) is an option
  • Whether a director can make a decision without holding a meeting first
  • The required amount of notice for calling a special meeting of the directors

The directors can call special meetings to resolve specific issues that can’t wait until the next regularly scheduled meeting. When determining how much notice is necessary for calling a special directors’ meeting, LawDepot’s template lets you choose from:

  • Reasonable notice
  • A number of hours
  • A number of days

“Reasonable notice” is open to interpretation and depends on the corporation’s established business practices. The advantage of this option is its flexibility. If you would prefer something more definite, choose one of the other options.

Step 7: Choose a corporate structure

Officers make up various upper-level roles in a corporation. You can choose between a simple officer structure or a custom one. 

Simple officer structures consist of a president, a treasurer, and a secretary. A custom officer structure can consist of a CEO, COO, CFO, president, and a number of vice presidents.

You can decide if the director will appoint officers or if they will be appointed by incorporators or shareholders. 

Step 8: Provide lending details 

In this section, you will state if the corporation is authorized to lend money to officers, directors or employees.

Step 9: Include information on fiscal year-end

A corporation’s fiscal year-end marks the end of a one-year or 12-month accounting period. If the fiscal year end is the same as the calendar year-end, then it will be December 31. However, you are also able to choose a custom fiscal year-end date that suits your corporation’s accounting needs.

Step 10: State your conflict of interest policy

Nonprofit corporations have to provide a conflict of interest policy to their Corporate Bylaws. A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s personal interests (i.e., family, friends, finances, intimate partners, and social activities) compromise their workplace decisions. Having a conflict of interest policy in place ensures that if one arises, proper measures will be taken.

Our questionnaire asks whether a director is disqualified from voting on issues where there’s a conflict of interest.

Step 11: Provide signing details

The last step in creating Corporate Bylaws is specifying whether the guidelines will be signed or not. If yes, you can choose if the task will fall to the directors or the shareholders.

Related documents:

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Sample

Corporate Bylaws

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