Membership — Us Code Code § 140503

Us Code Code § 140503 — Membership. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 140503. Membership

(a) Active Members.—An individual is eligible for active membership in the corporation if the individual—

(1) is of good moral character; and

(2) has received the Purple Heart for wounds received as a member, of any rank, of the Armed Forces of the United States or any foreign country during military or naval combat against an armed enemy of the United States.


(b) Associate Members.—The corporation may extend eligibility for membership as associate members to the parents, spouse, siblings, and lineal descendants of an individual described in subsection (a) of this section on terms provided in its constitution and bylaws.

(c) Voting.—Each member described in subsection (a) of this section has one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members.

(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1382; Pub. L. 110–207, §2, Apr. 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 719.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
140503 36:826. Aug. 26, 1958, Pub. L. 85–761, §6, 72 Stat. 857.

In this section, the text of 36:826(d) is omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (a), the words "has received" are substituted for "who have received or who may hereafter receive", and the words "as a member" are substituted for "are, have been, or may become members", for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words.

In subsection (b), the word "may" is substituted for "shall have the power, moreover, to" for consistency and to eliminate unnecessary words.


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–207 substituted "the parents, spouse, siblings, and lineal descendants" for "parents and lineal descendants".

About This Section

36 U.S.C. § 140503 is part of Title 36 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 36 U.S.C. § 140503. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

Using This Page

This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.

Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

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Statute text is transcribed from the official United States Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

Common questions

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The text above is transcribed from the United States Code, the codified statutes of Us Code. The official publisher link appears under "Verify the text" on this page.

What subject does United States Code § 140503 address?

It addresses "Membership". Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

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Statutes are amended, repealed, and renumbered every session. Confirm the current version at the official Us Code source before relying on this text.

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