---
kind: "section"
citation: "36 U.S.C. § 21701"
title: "36"
title_heading: "Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations"
number: "21701"
heading: "Organization"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/36/21701"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Patriotic and National Organizations"
  - "Part B — Organizations"
  - "Chapter 217 — The American Legion"
---

# §21701. Organization

- (a) **Federal Charter.—** The American Legion (in this chapter, the “[corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7)”) is a federally chartered [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7).
- (b) **Perpetual Existence.—** Except as otherwise provided, the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) has perpetual existence.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1297.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 21701(a) | 36:41. | Sept. 16, 1919, ch. 59, §§ 1, 2, 41 Stat. 284. |
|  | 36:42. |  |
| 21701(b) | 36:44 (words before 4th semicolon related to perpetual succession). | Sept. 16, 1919, ch. 59, § 4 (words before 4th semicolon related to perpetual succession), 41 Stat. 285; June 26, 1953, ch. 153, § 1, 67 Stat. 82. |

This section is substituted for the source provisions for consistency in the revised title and to eliminate unnecessary and obsolete language.