About the Academy
Congressional Charter

CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER
PUBLIC LAW 98-257­­APRIL 10, 1984
98th Congress
An Act

To charter the National Academy of Public Administration.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CHARTER.

The National Academy of Public Administration, organized and incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia, is hereby recognized as such and is granted a charter.

SECTION 2. POWERS.

The National Academy of Public Administration hereinafter referred to as the Academy" shall have only those powers granted to it through its bylaws and articles of incorporation filed in the State or States in which it is incorporated and subject to the laws of such State or States.

SECTION 3. OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES OF CORPORATION.

The objects and purposes for which the Academy is organized shall be those provided in its articles of incorporation and shall include:

1. evaluating the structure administration, operation, and program performance of Federal and other governments and government agencies, anticipating, identifying, and analyzing significant problems and suggesting timely corrective action;
2. foreseeing and examining critical emerging issues in governance, formulating practical approaches to their resolution;
3. assessing the effectiveness, structure, administration, and implications for governance of present or proposed public programs, policies, and processes, recommending specific changes;
4. advising on the relationship of Federal, State, Regional, and local governments; increasing public officials', citizens', and scholars' understanding of requirements and opportunities for sound governance and how these can be effectively met; and
5. demonstrating by the conduct of its affairs a commitment to the highest professional standards of ethics and scholarship.

SECTION 4. SERVICE OF PROCESS.

With respect to service of process, the Academy shall comply with the laws of the State or States in which it is incorporated and the State or States in which it carries on its activities in furtherance of its corporate purposes.

SECTION 5. MEMBERSHIP.

Eligibility for membership in the Academy and the rights and privileges of members shall be as provided in the bylaws of the corporation.

SECTION. 6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS; COMPOSITION; RESPONSIBILITIES.

The board of directors of the Academy and the responsibilities thereof shall be is provided in the articles of incorporation of the Academy and in conformity with the laws of the State or States in which it is incorporated.

SECTION. 7. OFFICERS OF CORPORATION.

The officers of the Academy and the election of such officers shall be as is provided in the articles of incorporation of the Academy and in conformity with the laws of the State or States wherein it is incorporated.

SECTION. 8. RESTRICTIONS.

• No part of the income or assets of the corporation shall inure to any member, officer, or director of the Academy or be distributed to any such person during the life of this charter. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the payment of reasonable compensation to the officers and members of the Academy or reimbursement for actual necessary expenses in amounts approved by the board of directors.
• The Academy shall not make any loan to any officer, director, or employee of the corporation.
• The Academy and any officer and director of the corporation, acting as such officer or director, shall not contribute to, support, or otherwise participate in any political activity or in any manner attempt to influence legislation.
• The Academy shall have no power to issue any shares of stock nor to declare or pay any dividends.
• The Academy shall not claim congressional approval or Federal Government authority for any of its activities, other than by mutual agreement.
• The Academy shall retain and maintain its status as a corporation. organized and incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia.

SECTION 9. LIABILITY.

The Academy shall be liable for the acts of its officers and agents when acting within the scope of their authority.

SECTION 10. BOOKS AND RECORDS INSPECTION.

The Academy shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall keep minutes of any proceeding of the Academy involving any of its members, the board of directors, or any committee having authority under the board of directors. The Academy shall keep at its principal office a record of the names and addresses of all members having the right of vote. All books and records of such corporation may be inspected by any member having the right to vote, or by any agent or attorney of such member, for any proper purpose, at any reasonable time. Nothing in this section shall be construed to contravene any applicable State law.

SECTION 11. AUDIT OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTlONS.

The first section of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for audit of accounts of private corporations established under Federal law" approved August 30, 1964 (36 U.S.C. 1101), is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:

"(61) National Academy of Public Administration.".

SECTION 12. ANNUAL REPORT.

The Academy shall report annually to the Congress concerning the activities of the corporation during the preceding fiscal year. Such annual report shall submitted at the same time as is the report of the audit require by section 11 of this Act. The report shall not be printed as a public document.

SECTION l3. RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO AMEND OR REPEAL CHARTER

The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly reserved to the Congress.

SECTION 14. DEFINITION OF "STATE".

For purposes of this Act, the term "State" includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories and possessions of the United States.

SECTION 15. TAX-EXEMPT STATUS.

The corporation shall maintain its status as an organization exempt from taxation as provided in the Internal Revenue Code. If the corporation fails to maintain such status, the charter granted hereby shall expire.

SECTION 16. TERMINATION.

If the corporation shall fail to comply with any of the restrictions or provisions of this Act the charter granted hereby shall expire.

SECTION 17. SERVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

The National Academy of Public Administration shall, whenever called upon by Congress, or the Federal Government, investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of government, the actual expense of such investigations, examinations, and reports to be paid by the Federal Government from appropriations available for such purpose.

Approved April 10, 1984.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY ­­ H.R. 3249 (S. 2102)
HOUSE REPORT No. 98-491 (Committee on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 129 (1983): Nov. 14, considered and passed House.
Vol. 130 (1984): Mar. 27, considered and passed Senate.