{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/13.1-312.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/13.1-312.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/13.1-312.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/13.1-312.html"}],"law_id":81376,"edition_id":1,"section_id":81376,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-312","catch_line":"Liberal construction of article","history":"1956, c. 428; 2022, c. 234.","full_text":"It is the declared policy of the Commonwealth, as one means of improving the economic position of agriculture, to encourage the organization of producers of agricultural products into effective nonprofit cooperative associations under the control of such producers, and to that end this Act shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purposes.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":291622,"text":"It is the declared policy of the Commonwealth, as one means of improving the economic position of agriculture, to encourage the organization of producers of agricultural products into effective nonprofit cooperative associations under the control of such producers, and to that end this Act shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purposes.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13351,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agricultural Cooperative Associations","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13350,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:41","permalink":{"id":149583,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13351,"identifier":"2","token":"13.1\/3\/2","url":"\/13.1\/3\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13350,"edition_id":1,"name":"Cooperative Associations","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12744,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:41","permalink":{"id":149519,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13350,"identifier":"3","token":"13.1\/3","url":"\/13.1\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12744,"edition_id":1,"name":"Corporations","identifier":"13.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":147493,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12744,"identifier":"13.1","token":"13.1","url":"\/13.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81376,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-312","catch_line":"Liberal construction of article","url":"\/13.1-312\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-312","metadata":false},{"id":64545,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-313","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/13.1-313\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-313","metadata":false},{"id":81035,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-314","catch_line":"Qualification of incorporators","url":"\/13.1-314\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-314","metadata":false},{"id":80157,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-315","catch_line":"Purposes","url":"\/13.1-315\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-315","metadata":false},{"id":61166,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-316","catch_line":"Articles of incorporation","url":"\/13.1-316\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-316","metadata":false},{"id":61597,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-317","catch_line":"Filing and recording articles of incorporation","url":"\/13.1-317\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-317","metadata":false},{"id":61590,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-318","catch_line":"Amendments to the articles of incorporation","url":"\/13.1-318\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-318","metadata":false},{"id":81534,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-319","catch_line":"Bylaws","url":"\/13.1-319\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-319","metadata":false},{"id":76905,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-320","catch_line":"Powers","url":"\/13.1-320\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-320","metadata":false},{"id":68555,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-321","catch_line":"Members","url":"\/13.1-321\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-321","metadata":false},{"id":75053,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-322","catch_line":"Membership or voting stock certificates; transfers; dividends; nonvoting stock","url":"\/13.1-322\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-322","metadata":false},{"id":71686,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-323","catch_line":"General and special meetings; how called","url":"\/13.1-323\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-323","metadata":false},{"id":54614,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-324","catch_line":"Directors generally; executive committee","url":"\/13.1-324\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-324","metadata":false},{"id":62644,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-325","catch_line":"Removal of director","url":"\/13.1-325\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-325","metadata":false},{"id":58660,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-326","catch_line":"Officers generally","url":"\/13.1-326\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-326","metadata":false},{"id":82331,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-327","catch_line":"Removal of officer","url":"\/13.1-327\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-327","metadata":false},{"id":72649,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-328","catch_line":"Referendum","url":"\/13.1-328\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-328","metadata":false},{"id":80375,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-329","catch_line":"Marketing contracts; enforcement; inducing breach; spreading false reports","url":"\/13.1-329\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-329","metadata":false},{"id":56154,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-330","catch_line":"Recordation of marketing contracts","url":"\/13.1-330\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-330","metadata":false},{"id":73115,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-331","catch_line":"Associations are not in restraint of trade","url":"\/13.1-331\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-331","metadata":false},{"id":65997,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-332","catch_line":"Voluntary dissolution","url":"\/13.1-332\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-332","metadata":false},{"id":66148,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-333","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/13.1-333\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-333","metadata":false},{"id":64470,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-333.1","catch_line":"Annual reports","url":"\/13.1-333.1\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-333.1","metadata":false},{"id":59958,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-334","catch_line":"Application to existing associations","url":"\/13.1-334\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-334","metadata":false},{"id":71004,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-335","catch_line":"Saving clause","url":"\/13.1-335\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-335","metadata":false},{"id":81965,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-336","catch_line":"Limitations of the use of the word \"cooperative.\"","url":"\/13.1-336\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-336","metadata":false},{"id":70364,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-337","catch_line":"Foreign associations","url":"\/13.1-337\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-337","metadata":false},{"id":56693,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-338","catch_line":"Purchasing business of other associations, persons, firms or corporations; stock issued","url":"\/13.1-338\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-338","metadata":false},{"id":68676,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-339","catch_line":"Merger or consolidation","url":"\/13.1-339\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-339","metadata":false},{"id":73845,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-340","catch_line":"Sale, mortgage or other disposition of assets","url":"\/13.1-340\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-340","metadata":false},{"id":69612,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-341","catch_line":"Taxes","url":"\/13.1-341\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-341","metadata":false},{"id":77835,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-342","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/13.1-342\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-342","metadata":false},{"id":79203,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-343","catch_line":"Application of general corporation laws","url":"\/13.1-343\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-343","metadata":false},{"id":81919,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-344","catch_line":"Existing associations continued","url":"\/13.1-344\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-344","metadata":false},{"id":54331,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-345","catch_line":"Verification no longer required; signing instrument containing misstatement as perjury","url":"\/13.1-345\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-345","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":64545,"structure_id":13351,"section_number":"13.1-313","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/13.1-313\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-313","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/13.1-312\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1956. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 428 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1956 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2022, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?221+ful+CHAP0234\">234<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":76923,"section_number":"13.1-308","catch_line":"Limitation of use of \"cooperative\" in corporate name","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-308\/"},{"id":85256,"section_number":"13.1-309","catch_line":"Other cooperatives may come under article","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-309\/"},{"id":69243,"section_number":"3.2-4709","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-4709\/"},{"id":71341,"section_number":"4.1-206.3","catch_line":"Retail licenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/4.1-206.3\/"},{"id":68493,"section_number":"46.2-2101","catch_line":"Exemptions from chapter","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-2101\/"},{"id":81897,"section_number":"58.1-3703","catch_line":"Counties, cities and towns may impose local license taxes and fees; limitation of authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3703\/"},{"id":80405,"section_number":"58.1-439.12:02","catch_line":" Biodiesel and green diesel fuels producers tax credit","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-439.12_02\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":149585,"object_type":"law","relational_id":81376,"identifier":"13.1-312","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-312","url":"\/13.1-312\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/13.1-312\/","token":"13.1\/3\/2\/13.1-312","dublin_core":{"Title":"Liberal construction of article","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 13.1-312","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>It is the declared policy of the Commonwealth, as one means of improving the economic position of agriculture, to encourage the organization of producers of agricultural products into effective nonprofit cooperative associations under the control of such producers, and to that end this Act shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purposes.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLIBERAL CONSTRUCTION OF ARTICLE (\u00a7 13.1-312)\n\nIt is the declared policy of the Commonwealth, as one means of improving the\neconomic position of agriculture, to encourage the organization of producers of\nagricultural products into effective nonprofit cooperative associations under\nthe control of such producers, and to that end this Act shall be liberally\nconstrued to accomplish its purposes.\n\nHISTORY: 1956, c. 428; 2022, c. 234.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}