创建业务时，您必须跟踪许多不同的要求。如果你形成一个corporation，您将在板上添加其他几个责任，例如建立章程。那么，什么是章程？

什么是章程？

章程是概述组织的规则，法规和准则的法律文件。在某些情况下，企业在成立公司时将其章程及其公司的章程提交。

In most cases, the business’s or organization’s board of directors are responsible for establishing the bylaws.

商业章程的主要目标是保护权利并列出董事，首席执行官，股东和委员会成员的职责。

Your bylaws can help you run your business more smoothly. Bylaws can help with elections, nominations, and settling disputes between parties.

公司章程最常见于公司。但是，合作伙伴关系和非营利组织也可以拥有章程。其他类型的组织，例如社会和俱乐部，通常也有章程。

Your organization’s bylaws aren’t set in stone after you create them. You can always revise or amend them if needed.

每个成员、董事和官员应该有一个copy of the organization’s bylaws and be familiar with its contents.

公司章程vs. bylaws

Your bylaws and articles of incorporation go hand in hand.公司章程include details about your corporation, including the roles managers and stockholders will play in the corporation.

公司章程will likely include things like:

• 您的业​​务名称
• Your business’s location
• The names and addresses of directors and officers
• A statement of your business’s purpose
• The number of stock shares your business can issue

Although articles of incorporation sound similar to bylaws, they are not one and the same. However, you do have to register with your state and create your bylaws after you form your corporation.

After you form your corporation, you must establish a board of directors. Your board of directors will then determine your small business bylaws.

当您启动公司时，必须将其与您的州合并。除非您的组织正在申请非营利性状态，否则您无需向州提交章程。

Keep both your bylaws and articles of incorporation in your records for safekeeping and in case of anaudit.

Check out some additional ways articles of incorporation and bylaws differ below.

Articles of Incorporation	Bylaws
包括有关公司的一般详细信息	Spell out detailed rules and procedures for the organization/business to follow
You must file your articles of incorporation with your state	In most states, you’re not required to file your bylaws
在您的公司批准后，他们成为公共文件	Bylaws are not typically accessible to the public and are mainly kept in your company’s records
You must hold a shareholders meeting to discuss articles of incorporation amendments	您可以随时修改您的章程

Bylaw components

章程由一些不同的部分组成。每个组织的章程都是独一无二的，取决于组织的需求。尽管章程可能会变化为业务，但以下是您可能包含的一些一般部分：

• 目的声明
• 修改章程的过程
• Board of directors
• Committees
• Conflicts of interest
• 会议
• Members
• Officers

目的声明

This section typically details basic information about the organization, like its name and the purpose of the organization. It should provide answers to the following questions:

• Why are you in business?
• What is the purpose of your organization?
• How will you go about reaching your goals?

修改章程的过程

Every organization should include a section about amending bylaws. This section goes over the procedure on how to amend the organization’s bylaws and who can recommend amendments or revisions and vote on amendments.

Board of directors

Your board of directors is the governing body of your organization. This section should include qualifications to become a member of the board of directors, how vacancies are filled, length of terms, and responsibilities for each member.

Committees

If your organization has any committees, this section will outline how the committees were formed and the mission of each committee.

Conflict of interest

This section goes over what to do if a利益冲突发生。例如，如果董事将从一个问题中受益，则他们不应就此事投票。如果这样做，它可能被认为是利益冲突。董事应立即透露这场冲突，以撤离投票。

会议

This section discusses the schedule of regular meetings, including time and place. It also details attendance conditions as well as requirements for notifying the board, committees, or members. This section also specifies the quorum (number of directors needed to vote on issues).

Members

本节指定不同类型的成员，会员投票权，会员接受过程以及删除会员的政策。如果您的组织没有任何成员，请在本节中包含该信息。

Officers

官员是具有特定角色的董事会成员，例如总裁，副总裁或财务主管。本节概述了如何选择和撤职官员以及其职责，权力和任期长度。您还应该指定删除军官或填补空缺职位的程序。

Importance of bylaws

您的业​​务章程阐明了您的组织在某种情况下可以做什么和无法做的事情。您的章程本质上是如何运行和管理组织的蓝图。章程可用于：

• 解决争端
• 做决定
• Keep things consistent
• Avoid conflict
• 交流规则
• Educate new directors and officers

Because they include such important information about running your business/organization, you shouldn’t leave them on a shelf to collect dust or forget.

您的章程应包含当前和准确的信息。定期（例如每年一次）重新访问您的章程，以修改信息并保持文档的最新状态。

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本文已从2015年1月30日的原始出版日期开始更新。

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