{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/38.2-4102.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/38.2-4102.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/38.2-4102.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/38.2-4102.html"}],"law_id":67367,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67367,"structure_id":16110,"section_number":"38.2-4102","catch_line":"Representative form of government","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 38-256, 38.1-571; 1952, c. 317, \u00a7 38.1-638.3; 1968, c. 654; 1986, c. 562.","full_text":"A society has a representative form of government when:\n\n1\n\nIt has a supreme governing body constituted in one of the following ways:\n\t\t\ta. Assembly. — The supreme governing body is an assembly composed of delegates elected directly by the members or at intermediate assemblies or conventions of members or their representatives, together with other delegates as may be prescribed in the society’s laws. A society may provide for election of delegates by mail. The elected delegates shall constitute a majority in number and shall not have less than two-thirds of the votes and not less than the number of votes required to amend the society’s laws. The assembly shall be elected, meet at least once every four years, and elect a board of directors to conduct the business of the society between meetings of the assembly. Vacancies on the board of directors between elections may be filled in the manner prescribed by the society’s laws.\n\t\t\tb. Direct election. — The supreme governing body is a board composed of persons elected by the members, either directly or by their representatives in intermediate assemblies, and any other persons prescribed in the society’s laws.\n\t\t\tA society may provide for election of the board by mail. Each term of a board member may not exceed four years. Vacancies on the board between elections may be filled in the manner prescribed by the society’s laws. Those persons elected to the board shall constitute a majority in number and not less than the number of votes required to amend the society’s laws. A person filling the unexpired term of an elected board member shall be considered to be an elected member. The board shall meet at least quarterly to conduct the business of the society.2\n\nThe officers of the society are elected either by the supreme governing body or by the board of directors.3\n\nOnly benefit members are eligible for election to the supreme governing body, the board of directors or any intermediate assembly.4\n\nEach voting member shall have one vote; no vote may be cast by proxy.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":244114,"text":"A society has a representative form of government when:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":244115,"text":"It has a supreme governing body constituted in one of the following ways:\n\t\t\ta. Assembly. — The supreme governing body is an assembly composed of delegates elected directly by the members or at intermediate assemblies or conventions of members or their representatives, together with other delegates as may be prescribed in the society’s laws. A society may provide for election of delegates by mail. The elected delegates shall constitute a majority in number and shall not have less than two-thirds of the votes and not less than the number of votes required to amend the society’s laws. The assembly shall be elected, meet at least once every four years, and elect a board of directors to conduct the business of the society between meetings of the assembly. Vacancies on the board of directors between elections may be filled in the manner prescribed by the society’s laws.\n\t\t\tb. Direct election. — The supreme governing body is a board composed of persons elected by the members, either directly or by their representatives in intermediate assemblies, and any other persons prescribed in the society’s laws.\n\t\t\tA society may provide for election of the board by mail. Each term of a board member may not exceed four years. Vacancies on the board between elections may be filled in the manner prescribed by the society’s laws. Those persons elected to the board shall constitute a majority in number and not less than the number of votes required to amend the society’s laws. A person filling the unexpired term of an elected board member shall be considered to be an elected member. The board shall meet at least quarterly to conduct the business of the society.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":244116,"text":"The officers of the society are elected either by the supreme governing body or by the board of directors.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":244117,"text":"Only benefit members are eligible for election to the supreme governing body, the board of directors or any intermediate assembly.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":244118,"text":"Each voting member shall have one vote; no vote may be cast by proxy.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16110,"edition_id":1,"name":"Structure and Purpose","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13775,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:06:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:06:19","permalink":{"id":216493,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16110,"identifier":"1","token":"38.2\/41\/1","url":"\/38.2\/41\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13775,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fraternal Benefit Societies","identifier":"41","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12698,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:51","permalink":{"id":216491,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13775,"identifier":"41","token":"38.2\/41","url":"\/38.2\/41\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12698,"edition_id":1,"name":"Insurance","identifier":"38.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":210661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12698,"identifier":"38.2","token":"38.2","url":"\/38.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":79636,"structure_id":16110,"section_number":"38.2-4100","catch_line":"Fraternal benefit societies","url":"\/38.2-4100\/","token":"38.2\/41\/1\/38.2-4100","metadata":false},{"id":63648,"structure_id":16110,"section_number":"38.2-4101","catch_line":"Lodge system","url":"\/38.2-4101\/","token":"38.2\/41\/1\/38.2-4101","metadata":false},{"id":67367,"structure_id":16110,"section_number":"38.2-4102","catch_line":"Representative form of government","url":"\/38.2-4102\/","token":"38.2\/41\/1\/38.2-4102","metadata":false},{"id":70287,"structure_id":16110,"section_number":"38.2-4103","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/38.2-4103\/","token":"38.2\/41\/1\/38.2-4103","metadata":false},{"id":84175,"structure_id":16110,"section_number":"38.2-4104","catch_line":"Purposes and powers","url":"\/38.2-4104\/","token":"38.2\/41\/1\/38.2-4104","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63648,"structure_id":16110,"section_number":"38.2-4101","catch_line":"Lodge system","url":"\/38.2-4101\/","token":"38.2\/41\/1\/38.2-4101","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":70287,"structure_id":16110,"section_number":"38.2-4103","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/38.2-4103\/","token":"38.2\/41\/1\/38.2-4103","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/38.2-4102\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. 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. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapter 317; in 1968, chapter 654; in 1986, chapter 562.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":216503,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67367,"identifier":"38.2-4102","token":"38.2\/41\/1\/38.2-4102","url":"\/38.2-4102\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/38.2-4102\/","token":"38.2\/41\/1\/38.2-4102","dublin_core":{"Title":"Representative form of government","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 38.2-4102","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A society<\/span> has a representative form of government when:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> It has a supreme governing body constituted in one of the following ways:\n\t\t\ta. Assembly. — The supreme governing body is an assembly composed of delegates elected directly by the members or at intermediate assemblies or conventions of members or their representatives, together with other delegates as may be prescribed in the society<\/span>’s laws<\/span><\/span>. A society<\/span> may provide for election of delegates by mail. The elected delegates shall constitute a majority in number and shall not have less than two-thirds of the votes and not less than the number of votes required to amend<\/span> the society<\/span>’s laws<\/span><\/span>. The assembly shall be elected, meet at least once every four years, and elect a board of directors to conduct the business of the society<\/span> between meetings of the assembly. Vacancies on the board of directors between elections may be filled in the manner prescribed by the society<\/span>’s laws<\/span><\/span>.\n\t\t\tb. Direct election. — The supreme governing body is a board composed of persons<\/span> elected by the members, either directly or by their representatives in intermediate assemblies, and any other persons<\/span> prescribed in the society<\/span>’s laws<\/span><\/span>.\n\t\t\tA society<\/span> may provide for election of the board by mail. Each term of a board member may not exceed four years. Vacancies on the board between elections may be filled in the manner prescribed by the society<\/span>’s laws<\/span><\/span>. Those persons<\/span> elected to the board shall constitute a majority in number and not less than the number of votes required to amend<\/span> the society<\/span>’s laws<\/span><\/span>. A person<\/span> filling the unexpired term of an elected board member shall be considered to be an elected member. The board shall meet at least quarterly to conduct the business of the society<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The officers of the society<\/span> are elected either by the supreme governing body or by the board of directors. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Only benefit members<\/span> are eligible for election to the supreme governing body, the board of directors or any intermediate assembly. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Each voting member shall have one vote; no vote may be cast by proxy. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT (\u00a7 38.2-4102)\n\nA society has a representative form of government when:\n\n1. It has a supreme governing body constituted in one of the following ways:\n\t\t\ta. Assembly. — The supreme governing body is an assembly composed of\ndelegates elected directly by the members or at intermediate assemblies or\nconventions of members or their representatives, together with other delegates\nas may be prescribed in the society’s laws. A society may provide for\nelection of delegates by mail. The elected delegates shall constitute a majority\nin number and shall not have less than two-thirds of the votes and not less than\nthe number of votes required to amend the society’s laws. The assembly\nshall be elected, meet at least once every four years, and elect a board of\ndirectors to conduct the business of the society between meetings of the\nassembly. Vacancies on the board of directors between elections may be filled in\nthe manner prescribed by the society’s laws.\n\t\t\tb. Direct election. — The supreme governing body is a board composed of\npersons elected by the members, either directly or by their representatives in\nintermediate assemblies, and any other persons prescribed in the society’s\nlaws.\n\t\t\tA society may provide for election of the board by mail. Each term of a board\nmember may not exceed four years. Vacancies on the board between elections may\nbe filled in the manner prescribed by the society’s laws. Those persons\nelected to the board shall constitute a majority in number and not less than the\nnumber of votes required to amend the society’s laws. A person filling the\nunexpired term of an elected board member shall be considered to be an elected\nmember. The board shall meet at least quarterly to conduct the business of the\nsociety.\n\n2. The officers of the society are elected either by the supreme governing body\nor by the board of directors.\n\n3. Only benefit members are eligible for election to the supreme governing body,\nthe board of directors or any intermediate assembly.\n\n4. Each voting member shall have one vote; no vote may be cast by proxy.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 38-256, 38.1-571; 1952, c. 317, \u00a7 38.1-638.3; 1968, c.\n654; 1986, c. 562.","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}}