{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/38.2-3806.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/38.2-3806.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/38.2-3806.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/38.2-3806.html"}],"law_id":362441,"edition_id":2,"section_id":362441,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3806","catch_line":"Constitution and bylaws","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 38-479; 1952, c. 317, \u00a7 38.1-504; 1986, c. 562.","full_text":"Each company shall provide in its constitution, laws or bylaws for:\n\n1\n\nA representative form of government for the management of the company, to be carried on either with or without a lodge, or with membership in the lodge optional;\n\n2\n\nA legislative or governing body composed of its officers and representatives to be elected either by the adult members or by delegates elected directly or indirectly by the adult members; and\n\n3\n\nThe manner of selecting representatives of the members for membership in its legislative body.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1350074,"text":"Each company shall provide in its constitution, laws or bylaws for:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":1350075,"text":"A representative form of government for the management of the company, to be carried on either with or without a lodge, or with membership in the lodge optional;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":1350076,"text":"A legislative or governing body composed of its officers and representatives to be elected either by the adult members or by delegates elected directly or indirectly by the adult members; and","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":1350077,"text":"The manner of selecting representatives of the members for membership in its legislative body.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":51761,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":51760,"metadata":{"child_laws":14,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:48:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:16","permalink":{"id":1443153,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51761,"identifier":"1","token":"38.2\/38\/1","url":"\/38.2\/38\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51760,"edition_id":2,"name":"Cooperative Nonprofit Life Benefit Companies","identifier":"38","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":40,"parent_id":51644,"metadata":{"child_laws":19,"child_structures":2},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:48:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:33:16","permalink":{"id":1443151,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51760,"identifier":"38","token":"38.2\/38","url":"\/38.2\/38\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51644,"edition_id":2,"name":"Insurance","identifier":"38.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":88,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1890,"child_structures":173},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:45:30","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:55","permalink":{"id":1437663,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51644,"identifier":"38.2","token":"38.2","url":"\/38.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":362435,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3800","catch_line":"Scope of chapter","url":"\/38.2-3800\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3800","metadata":false},{"id":362436,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3801","catch_line":"Cooperative nonprofit life benefit company defined","url":"\/38.2-3801\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3801","metadata":false},{"id":362437,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3802","catch_line":"Continuation of existing companies","url":"\/38.2-3802\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3802","metadata":false},{"id":362438,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3803","catch_line":"Licensing of additional companies prohibited","url":"\/38.2-3803\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3803","metadata":false},{"id":362439,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3804","catch_line":"What laws applicable","url":"\/38.2-3804\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3804","metadata":false},{"id":362440,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3805","catch_line":"General powers of company; limitation on increase in rates","url":"\/38.2-3805\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3805","metadata":false},{"id":362441,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3806","catch_line":"Constitution and bylaws","url":"\/38.2-3806\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3806","metadata":false},{"id":362442,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3807","catch_line":"Governing body; board of directors","url":"\/38.2-3807\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3807","metadata":false},{"id":362443,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3808","catch_line":"Filing copies of constitution and bylaws","url":"\/38.2-3808\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3808","metadata":false},{"id":362444,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3809","catch_line":"How a company may become legal reserve life insurer","url":"\/38.2-3809\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3809","metadata":false},{"id":362445,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3810","catch_line":"Institutions maintainable; company a charitable institution","url":"\/38.2-3810\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3810","metadata":false},{"id":362446,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3811","catch_line":"Benefits not subject to process","url":"\/38.2-3811\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3811","metadata":false},{"id":362447,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3812","catch_line":"Tax on gross premium receipts","url":"\/38.2-3812\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3812","metadata":false},{"id":362448,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3813","catch_line":"Suits against company","url":"\/38.2-3813\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3813","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":362440,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3805","catch_line":"General powers of company; limitation on increase in rates","url":"\/38.2-3805\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3805","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":362442,"structure_id":51761,"section_number":"38.2-3807","catch_line":"Governing body; board of directors","url":"\/38.2-3807\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3807","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/38.2-3806\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. 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. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapter 317; in 1986, chapter 562.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1443179,"object_type":"law","relational_id":362441,"identifier":"38.2-3806","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3806","url":"\/38.2-3806\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/38.2-3806\/","token":"38.2\/38\/1\/38.2-3806","dublin_core":{"Title":"Constitution and bylaws","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 38.2-3806","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Each <span class=\"dictionary\">company<\/span> shall provide in its constitution, <span class=\"dictionary\">laws<\/span> or bylaws for:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> A representative form of government for the management of the <span class=\"dictionary\">company<\/span>, to be carried on either with or without a lodge, or with membership in the lodge optional; <a id=\"paragraph-1350075\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-3806\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> A legislative or governing body composed of its officers and representatives to be elected either by the adult members or by delegates elected directly or indirectly by the adult members; and <a id=\"paragraph-1350076\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-3806\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> The manner of selecting representatives of the members for membership in its legislative body. <a id=\"paragraph-1350077\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-3806\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS (\u00a7 38.2-3806)\n\nEach company shall provide in its constitution, laws or bylaws for:\n\n1. A representative form of government for the management of the company, to be\ncarried on either with or without a lodge, or with membership in the lodge\noptional;\n\n2. A legislative or governing body composed of its officers and representatives\nto be elected either by the adult members or by delegates elected directly or\nindirectly by the adult members; and\n\n3. The manner of selecting representatives of the members for membership in its\nlegislative body.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 38-479; 1952, c. 317, \u00a7 38.1-504; 1986, c. 562.","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"}}