{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/13.1-328.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/13.1-328.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/13.1-328.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/13.1-328.html"}],"law_id":346595,"edition_id":2,"section_id":346595,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-328","catch_line":"Referendum","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 13-262; 1956, c. 428.","full_text":"The articles of incorporation or bylaws may provide that upon demand of two-fifths of all the directors, any matter that has been approved or passed by the board must be referred to the members for their approval before it becomes effective. No referendum shall be allowed unless it is demanded by the required number of directors at the meeting at which the matter in question is adopted. The referendum of the members may be conducted by mail ballots or by their vote taken at the next annual meeting or at a special meeting called for such purpose. Immediately upon receipt of a written petition signed by at least twenty per centum of the members, the board of directors shall require the secretary to conduct a referendum on the matter set forth in said petition.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1292454,"text":"The articles of incorporation or bylaws may provide that upon demand of two-fifths of all the directors, any matter that has been approved or passed by the board must be referred to the members for their approval before it becomes effective. No referendum shall be allowed unless it is demanded by the required number of directors at the meeting at which the matter in question is adopted. The referendum of the members may be conducted by mail ballots or by their vote taken at the next annual meeting or at a special meeting called for such purpose. Immediately upon receipt of a written petition signed by at least twenty per centum of the members, the board of directors shall require the secretary to conduct a referendum on the matter set forth in said petition.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":49764,"edition_id":2,"name":"Agricultural Cooperative Associations","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":49762,"metadata":{"child_laws":35,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:14:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:05","permalink":{"id":1376585,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49764,"identifier":"2","token":"13.1\/3\/2","url":"\/13.1\/3\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49762,"edition_id":2,"name":"Cooperative Associations","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":3,"parent_id":49726,"metadata":{"child_laws":60,"child_structures":3},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:14:34","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:05","permalink":{"id":1376521,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49762,"identifier":"3","token":"13.1\/3","url":"\/13.1\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49726,"edition_id":2,"name":"Corporations","identifier":"13.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":44,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":894,"child_structures":104},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:14:01","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:04","permalink":{"id":1374495,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49726,"identifier":"13.1","token":"13.1","url":"\/13.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":346579,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-312","catch_line":"Liberal construction of article","url":"\/13.1-312\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-312","metadata":false},{"id":346580,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-313","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/13.1-313\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-313","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Carson Ray Shenk v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1165964","citation":null,"date":"1997-06-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1067442\/carson-ray-shenk-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Shenk v. Commonwealth","case_number":"No. 1165-96-4","citation":"24 Va. App. 816","date":"1997-06-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6932965\/shenk-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. DUFF, Senior Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Forst v. Rockingham Poultry Marketing Cooperative, Inc.","case_number":"Record No. 790521","citation":"222 Va. 270","date":"1981-06-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6927606\/forst-v-rockingham-poultry-marketing-cooperative-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. STEPHENSON, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Forst v. ROCKINGHAM POULTRY MARKETING CO-OP.","case_number":"Record No. 790521","citation":"279 S.E.2d 400","date":"1981-06-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1395078\/forst-v-rockingham-poultry-marketing-co-op\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 279 S.E.2d 400 (1981) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Trigon Insurance v. United States","case_number":"3:00cv365","citation":"215 F. Supp. 2d 687","date":"2002-08-09","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2503699\/trigon-insurance-v-united-states\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 215 F.Supp.2d 687 (2002) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":346581,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-314","catch_line":"Qualification of incorporators","url":"\/13.1-314\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-314","metadata":false},{"id":346582,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-315","catch_line":"Purposes","url":"\/13.1-315\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-315","metadata":false},{"id":346583,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-316","catch_line":"Articles of incorporation","url":"\/13.1-316\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-316","metadata":false},{"id":346584,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-317","catch_line":"Filing and recording articles of incorporation","url":"\/13.1-317\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-317","metadata":false},{"id":346585,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-318","catch_line":"Amendments to the articles of incorporation","url":"\/13.1-318\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-318","metadata":false},{"id":346586,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-319","catch_line":"Bylaws","url":"\/13.1-319\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-319","metadata":false},{"id":346587,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-320","catch_line":"Powers","url":"\/13.1-320\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-320","metadata":false},{"id":346588,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-321","catch_line":"Members","url":"\/13.1-321\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-321","metadata":false},{"id":346589,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-322","catch_line":"Membership or voting stock certificates; transfers; dividends; nonvoting stock","url":"\/13.1-322\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-322","metadata":false},{"id":346590,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-323","catch_line":"General and special meetings; how called","url":"\/13.1-323\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-323","metadata":false},{"id":346591,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-324","catch_line":"Directors generally; executive committee","url":"\/13.1-324\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-324","metadata":false},{"id":346592,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-325","catch_line":"Removal of director","url":"\/13.1-325\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-325","metadata":false},{"id":346593,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-326","catch_line":"Officers generally","url":"\/13.1-326\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-326","metadata":false},{"id":346594,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-327","catch_line":"Removal of officer","url":"\/13.1-327\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-327","metadata":false},{"id":346595,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-328","catch_line":"Referendum","url":"\/13.1-328\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-328","metadata":false},{"id":346596,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-329","catch_line":"Marketing contracts; enforcement; inducing breach; spreading false reports","url":"\/13.1-329\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-329","metadata":false},{"id":346597,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-330","catch_line":"Recordation of marketing contracts","url":"\/13.1-330\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-330","metadata":false},{"id":346598,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-331","catch_line":"Associations are not in restraint of trade","url":"\/13.1-331\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-331","metadata":false},{"id":346599,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-332","catch_line":"Voluntary dissolution","url":"\/13.1-332\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-332","metadata":false},{"id":346601,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-333","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/13.1-333\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-333","metadata":false},{"id":346600,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-333.1","catch_line":"Annual reports","url":"\/13.1-333.1\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-333.1","metadata":false},{"id":346602,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-334","catch_line":"Application to existing associations","url":"\/13.1-334\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-334","metadata":false},{"id":346603,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-335","catch_line":"Saving clause","url":"\/13.1-335\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-335","metadata":false},{"id":346604,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-336","catch_line":"Limitations of the use of the word \"cooperative.\"","url":"\/13.1-336\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-336","metadata":false},{"id":346605,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-337","catch_line":"Foreign associations","url":"\/13.1-337\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-337","metadata":false},{"id":346606,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-338","catch_line":"Purchasing business of other associations, persons, firms or corporations; stock issued","url":"\/13.1-338\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-338","metadata":false},{"id":346607,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-339","catch_line":"Merger or consolidation","url":"\/13.1-339\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-339","metadata":false},{"id":346608,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-340","catch_line":"Sale, mortgage or other disposition of assets","url":"\/13.1-340\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-340","metadata":false},{"id":346609,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-341","catch_line":"Taxes","url":"\/13.1-341\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-341","metadata":false},{"id":346610,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-342","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/13.1-342\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-342","metadata":false},{"id":346611,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-343","catch_line":"Application of general corporation laws","url":"\/13.1-343\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-343","metadata":false},{"id":346612,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-344","catch_line":"Existing associations continued","url":"\/13.1-344\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-344","metadata":false},{"id":346613,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-345","catch_line":"Verification no longer required; signing instrument containing misstatement as perjury","url":"\/13.1-345\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-345","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":346594,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-327","catch_line":"Removal of officer","url":"\/13.1-327\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-327","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":346596,"structure_id":49764,"section_number":"13.1-329","catch_line":"Marketing contracts; enforcement; inducing breach; spreading false reports","url":"\/13.1-329\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-329","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/13.1-328\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1956, chapter 428.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1376651,"object_type":"law","relational_id":346595,"identifier":"13.1-328","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-328","url":"\/13.1-328\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/13.1-328\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-328","dublin_core":{"Title":"Referendum","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 13.1-328","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The articles of incorporation or bylaws may provide that upon demand of two-fifths of all the directors, any matter that has been approved or passed by the board must be referred to the members for their approval before it becomes effective. No <span class=\"dictionary\">referendum<\/span> shall be allowed unless it is demanded by the required number of directors at the meeting at which the matter in question is adopted. The <span class=\"dictionary\">referendum<\/span> of the members may be conducted by mail ballots or by their vote taken at the next annual meeting or at a special meeting called for such purpose. Immediately upon receipt of a written <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span> signed by at least twenty per centum of the members, the board of directors shall require the secretary to conduct a <span class=\"dictionary\">referendum<\/span> on the matter set forth in said <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREFERENDUM (\u00a7 13.1-328)\n\nThe articles of incorporation or bylaws may provide that upon demand of\ntwo-fifths of all the directors, any matter that has been approved or passed by\nthe board must be referred to the members for their approval before it becomes\neffective. No referendum shall be allowed unless it is demanded by the required\nnumber of directors at the meeting at which the matter in question is adopted.\nThe referendum of the members may be conducted by mail ballots or by their vote\ntaken at the next annual meeting or at a special meeting called for such\npurpose. Immediately upon receipt of a written petition signed by at least\ntwenty per centum of the members, the board of directors shall require the\nsecretary to conduct a referendum on the matter set forth in said petition.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 13-262; 1956, c. 428.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}