FEDERAL CHARTER OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
Seventy - Fifth Congress of the United States of America
At the First Session
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the fifth
day of January, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven
AN ACT
To Incorporate the Marine Corps League
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SEC. 1. That major General John A Lejeune, United States Marine Corps, retired, honorary national commandant; Maurice A Illch, national commandant; Roy S. Taylor, senior national vice commandant; Kenneth B. Collings, junior vice commandant; Alexander F. Ormsby, national judge advocate; Reverend John H. Clifford, national chaplain; Edward A. Walker, national sergeant at arms; John B Hinckley, junior, national adjutant and paymaster; John E. Brock, national chief of staff, are hereby created a body corporate of the name "Marine Corps League."
SEC. 2. That the purposes of this corporation shall be: (a) to preserve the traditions and to promote the interests of the United States Marine Corps; (b) to band those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service together in fellowship that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy; (c) to fit its members for the duties of citizenship and to encourage them to serve as ably as citizens as they have served the Nation under arms; (d) to hold sacred the history and the memory of the men who have given their lives to the Nation; (e) to foster love for the principles which they have supported by blood and valor since the founding of the Republic; (f) to maintain true allegiance to American institutions; (g) to create a bond of comradeship between those in the service and those who have returned to civil life; (h) to aid voluntarily and to render assistance to all Marines and former Marines as well as to their widows and orphans; (i) to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of peculiar interest to Marines.
SEC. 3. That the corporation: (a) shall have perpetual succession; (b) may charge and collect membership dues and receive contributions of money or property to be devoted to carrying out the purposes of the organization; (c) may sue or may be sued; (d) may adopt a corporate seal and alter it at pleasure; (e) may adopt and alter by-laws not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States or of any State; (f) may establish and maintain offices for the conduct of its business; (g) may appoint or elect officers and agents; (h) may choose a board of trustees, consisting of not more than fifteen persons nor less than five persons, to conduct the business and exercise the powers of the corporation; (i) may acquire, by purchase, devise, bequest, gift or otherwise, and hold, encumber, convey, or otherwise dispose of such real and personal property as may be necessary or appropriate for its corporate purposes; and (j) generally may do any and all lawful acts necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes for which the corporation is created.
SEC. 4. That the corporation shall, on or before the 1st day of December in each year, transmit to Congress a report of its proceedings and activities for the preceding calendar year, including the full and complete statement of its receipts and expenditures. Such report shall not be printed as public documents.
SEC. 5. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act at any time is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, August 4, 1937.
