Subdivision 1. Generally. A corporation may, but need not, have bylaws. Bylaws may contain any provision relating to the management or regulation of the affairs of the corporation consistent with law or the articles, including but not limited to:
(1) the number of directors, and the qualifications, manner of election, powers, duties, and compensation, if any, of directors;
(2) the qualifications of members;
(3) different classes of membership;
(4) the manner of admission, withdrawal, suspension, and expulsion of members;
(5) property, voting, and other rights and privileges of members;
(6) the appointment and authority of committees;
(7) the appointment or election, duties, compensation, and tenure of officers;
(8) the time, place, and manner of calling, conducting, and giving notice of member, board, and committee meetings, or of conducting mail ballots;
(9) the making of reports and financial statements to members; or
(10) the number establishing a quorum for meetings of members and the board.
Subd. 1a. Adoption and amendment; no members with voting rights. Initial bylaws may be adopted under section 317A.171 by a majority of the incorporators or the first board. The bylaws may be amended in the manner provided in the articles or bylaws. In the absence of such provision, a majority of directors may amend or repeal the bylaws.
Subd. 2. Adoption and amendment; members with voting rights. (a) Unless reserved by the articles to the members with voting rights, initial bylaws may be adopted under section 317A.171 by a majority of the incorporators or by the first board. Unless reserved by the articles to the members, the power to adopt, amend, or repeal the bylaws is vested in the board. The power of the board is subject to the power of the members with voting rights under paragraph (b) to adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws adopted, amended, or repealed by the board. The bylaws may be amended in the manner provided in the articles or bylaws. In the absence of such provision, the following bylaw amendments are subject to approval by the members with voting rights: fixing a quorum for meetings of members; prescribing procedures for removing directors or filling vacancies in the board; fixing the number of directors or their classifications, qualifications, or terms of office prescribing procedures for removing or adding members; and increasing or decreasing the vote required for a member action. The board may adopt or amend a bylaw provision to increase the number of directors without member approval.
(b) Unless the articles or bylaws provide otherwise, at least 50 members with voting rights or ten percent of the members with voting rights, whichever is less, may propose a resolution for action by the members to adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws adopted, amended, or repealed by the board. The resolution must contain the provisions proposed for adoption, amendment, or repeal. The limitations and procedures for submitting, considering, and adopting the resolution are the same as provided in section 317A.133, for amendment of the articles, except that board approval is not required.
1989 c 304 s 26; 1990 c 488 s 13; 2010 c 250 art 1 s 18,19
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 300 - 323A — Business, Social, And Charitable Organizations
Chapter 317A — Nonprofit Corporations
Section 317A.011 — Definitions.
Section 317A.015 — Legal Recognition Of Electronic Records And Signatures.
Section 317A.021 — Application And Election.
Section 317A.022 — Election By Certain Chapter 318 Associations.
Section 317A.031 — Transition; Continuation Of Legal Acts.
Section 317A.041 — Reservation Of Right.
Section 317A.051 — Scope Of Chapter.
Section 317A.061 — Foreign Nonprofit Corporations; Sections Applicable.
Section 317A.105 — Incorporators.
Section 317A.113 — Private Foundations; Provisions Considered Contained In Articles.
Section 317A.115 — Corporate Name.
Section 317A.117 — Reserved Name.
Section 317A.121 — Registered Office; Registered Agent.
Section 317A.131 — Amendment Of Articles.
Section 317A.133 — Procedure For Amendment Of Articles.
Section 317A.139 — Articles Of Amendment.
Section 317A.141 — Effect Of Amendment.
Section 317A.151 — Filing; Effective Date Of Articles.
Section 317A.155 — Presumption; Certificate Of Incorporation.
Section 317A.163 — Corporate Seal.
Section 317A.165 — Effect Of Lack Of Power; Ultra Vires.
Section 317A.171 — Organization.
Section 317A.205 — Qualifications; Election.
Section 317A.209 — Expiration Of Term; Acts Not Void Or Voidable.
Section 317A.211 — Compensation.
Section 317A.213 — Classification Of Directors.
Section 317A.215 — Cumulative Voting For Directors.
Section 317A.221 — Resignation.
Section 317A.223 — Removal Of Directors.
Section 317A.225 — Removal Of Appointed Directors.
Section 317A.231 — Board Meetings.
Section 317A.237 — Act Of The Board.
Section 317A.239 — Action Without Meeting.
Section 317A.241 — Committees.
Section 317A.251 — Standard Of Conduct.
Section 317A.255 — Director Conflicts Of Interest.
Section 317A.257 — Unpaid Directors; Liability For Damages.
Section 317A.301 — Officers Required.
Section 317A.305 — Duties Of Required Officers.
Section 317A.311 — Other Officers.
Section 317A.315 — Multiple Offices.
Section 317A.321 — Officers Considered Elected.
Section 317A.331 — Contract Rights.
Section 317A.341 — Resignation; Removal; Vacancies.
Section 317A.351 — Delegation.
Section 317A.361 — Standard Of Conduct.
Section 317A.403 — Membership Certificates.
Section 317A.405 — Transfer Of Membership.
Section 317A.407 — Liability Of Members.
Section 317A.409 — Resignation.
Section 317A.411 — Termination.
Section 317A.413 — Purchase Of Memberships.
Section 317A.431 — Annual Meetings Of Members With Voting Rights.
Section 317A.433 — Special Meetings Of Members With Voting Rights.
Section 317A.434 — Court-ordered Meeting Of Members With Voting Rights.
Section 317A.435 — Notice Requirements.
Section 317A.437 — Record Date; Determining Members Entitled To Notice And Vote.
Section 317A.439 — Members' List For Meeting.
Section 317A.441 — Right To Vote.
Section 317A.443 — Act Of The Members.
Section 317A.445 — Unanimous Action Without A Meeting.
Section 317A.447 — Action By Ballot.
Section 317A.450 — Remote Communications For Member Meetings.
Section 317A.455 — Corporation's Acceptance Of Member Act.
Section 317A.457 — Voting Agreements.
Section 317A.461 — Books And Records; Financial Statement.
Section 317A.467 — Equitable Remedies.
Section 317A.501 — Loans; Guarantees; Suretyship.
Section 317A.521 — Indemnification.
Section 317A.601 — Merger, Consolidation, Or Transfer.
Section 317A.611 — Plan Of Merger Or Consolidation.
Section 317A.613 — Plan Approval.
Section 317A.615 — Articles Of Merger Or Consolidation; Certificate.
Section 317A.621 — Merger Of Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
Section 317A.631 — Abandonment.
Section 317A.641 — Effective Date Of Merger Or Consolidation; Effect.
Section 317A.643 — Continuance Of Corporate Authority.
Section 317A.651 — Merger Or Consolidation With Foreign Corporation.
Section 317A.661 — Transfer Of Assets; Required Approval.
Section 317A.671 — Certain Assets Not To Be Diverted.
Section 317A.681 — Conversion.
Section 317A.683 — Action On Plan Of Conversion By Converting Corporation.
Section 317A.685 — Filings Required For Conversion; Effective Date And Time.
Section 317A.687 — Abandonment.
Section 317A.689 — Effect Of Conversion.
Section 317A.701 — Methods Of Dissolution.
Section 317A.711 — Voluntary Dissolution By Incorporators.
Section 317A.721 — Voluntary Dissolution By Board And Members With Voting Rights.
Section 317A.723 — Filing Notice Of Intent To Dissolve; Effect.
Section 317A.725 — Procedure In Dissolution.
Section 317A.727 — Notice To Creditors And Claimants.
Section 317A.729 — Claims In Dissolution.
Section 317A.730 — Statute Of Limitations.
Section 317A.731 — Revocation Of Dissolution Proceedings.
Section 317A.733 — Articles Of Dissolution; Certificate Of Dissolution; Effect.
Section 317A.735 — Distribution Of Assets.
Section 317A.741 — Supervised Voluntary Dissolution.
Section 317A.751 — Judicial Intervention; Equitable Remedies Or Dissolution.
Section 317A.753 — Procedure In Involuntary Or Supervised Voluntary Dissolution.
Section 317A.755 — Qualifications Of Receivers; Powers.
Section 317A.759 — Filing Claims In Proceedings To Dissolve.
Section 317A.763 — Decree Of Dissolution.
Section 317A.765 — Filing Decree.
Section 317A.771 — Deposit With Commissioner Of Management And Budget Of Amount Due Certain Persons.
Section 317A.781 — Claims Barred; Exceptions.
Section 317A.783 — Right To Sue Or Defend After Dissolution.
Section 317A.791 — Omitted Assets.
Section 317A.811 — Notice To Attorney General; Waiting Period.
Section 317A.813 — Remedial Powers Of Attorney General.
Section 317A.821 — Initial Corporate Registration With Secretary Of State.
Section 317A.823 — Annual Corporate Renewal.
Section 317A.825 — Acceptance Of Registration By Secretary Of State.
Section 317A.827 — Continuation For Certain Purposes; Reinstatement.
Section 317A.901 — Service Of Process On Corporation.
Section 317A.903 — State Interested; Proceedings.
Section 317A.905 — Chambers Of Commerce, Boards Of Trade, Exchanges.
Section 317A.907 — Corporations To Secure Or Maintain Homes For Dependent Children.