You are here: American University Board of Trustees Charter

Charter American University Act of Incorporation

Approved by virtue of a Special Act of Congress of the United States, February 24, 1893 (27 Stat. 476).

AN ACT To incorporate the American University (CURRENT, REVISED CHARTER)

 

Section 1.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That John H. Vincent, John E. Andrus, James M. Buckley, Mark Hoyt, Jesse L. Hurlburt, James M. King, Charles C. McCabe, Charles H. Payne, John E. Searles, junior, John S. Huyler, of New York; Charles W. Buoy, J.A.M. Chapman, G.P. Hukill, Robert E. Pattison, Charles Scott, Mrs. Matthew Simpson of Pennsylvania; Julian S. Carr, of North Carolina; David H. Carroll, Jacob Tome, Alpheus W. Wilson, of Maryland; Charles H. Fowler, of Minnesota; William M. Springer, J.B. Hobbs, of Illinois; John P. Newman, of Nebraska; Job H. Jackson, of Delaware; Redfield Proctor, of Vermont; W.W. Smith, of Virginia; D.B. Wesson, M. Burnham, of Massachusetts; Thomas Bowman, of Missouri; and John F. Hurst, Louis E. McComas, Benjamin Charlton, Andrew B. Duvall, Matthew G. Emery, Charles C. Glover, S.S. Henkle, Benjamin F. Leighton, John E. Beall, Aldis B. Browne, Mrs. John A. Logan, H.B. Moulton, Hiram Price, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Somers, Brainard H. Warner, and S.W. Woodward of the District of Columbia, their associates and successors, including individuals who are members of the United Methodist Church, including (subject to their acceptance) the Bishop of the Washington Episcopal Area and General Secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate by the name The American University, with power to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, and have perpetual succession; to acquire, take by devise, bequest or otherwise, hold, purchase, encumber, and convey such real and personal estate as shall be required for the purpose of its incorporation; to make and use a common seal, and the same to alter at pleasure; and incorporators aforesaid, their associates and successors, who shall possess the qualifications herein required, shall constitute a board of trustees, by which the business of said corporation shall be transacted, which board shall hereafter consist of not less than twenty-five or more than fifty persons, eleven of whom shall constitute a quorum to do business, and which board shall be authorized to fill any vacancies in their number, to appoint such officers and agents as the business of the corporation shall require; and to make by-laws for the accomplishments of its purposes, for the management of its property, and for the regulation of its affairs. Said corporation is hereby empowered to establish and maintain within the District of Columbia a university for the promotion of education. The said corporation shall have power to grant and confer diplomas and the usual college and university degrees, and honorary degrees, and also such other powers as may be necessary fully to carry out and execute the general purposes of the said corporation as herein appearing.

Section 2.

a. After the date of enactment of this section -

  1. no person shall be elected to the board of trustees of the corporation unless the election of such person has been approved by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church; members of the board of trustees shall hold office until their successors are elected;
  2. all property, both real and personal, of the corporation shall be held in perpetuity for educational purposes under the auspices of the United Methodist Church;
  3. the board of trustees of the corporation shall not propose any amendment by the Congress to this Act unless the proposal of such amendment has been previously approved by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church.

b. In the case of any violation by the corporation or the board of trustees of any provisions of subsection (a) of this section, all right, title, and interest of the corporation shall vest in the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Tennessee, or its successor.

Section 3.

That this act may be amended or repealed at any time by the Congress in its pleasure.

* * * * * * *

Approved by virtue of a Special Act of Congress of the United States, February 24, 1893 (27 Stat. 476), as amended by the following Acts of Congress: March 3, 1895 (28 Stat. 1814); June 30, 1951 (65 Stat. 107); August 1, 1953 (67 Stat. 359); October 31, 1990 (104 Stat. 1160); September 9, 1996 (110 Stat. 2378).