---
kind: "section"
citation: "36 U.S.C. § 21702"
title: "36"
title_heading: "Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations"
number: "21702"
heading: "Purposes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/36/21702"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Patriotic and National Organizations"
  - "Part B — Organizations"
  - "Chapter 217 — The American Legion"
---

# §21702. Purposes


The purposes of the [corporation](/usc/36/220501.md?p=b-7) are—

- (1) to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States;
- (2) to promote peace and good will among the peoples of the United States and all the nations of the Earth;
- (3) to preserve the memories and incidents of the 2 World Wars and the other great hostilities fought to uphold democracy;
- (4) to cement the ties and comradeship born of service; and
- (5) to consecrate the efforts of its members to mutual helpfulness and service to their country.

## 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) |
| 21702 | 36:43. | Sept. 16, 1919, ch. 59, § 3, 41 Stat. 285; Oct. 29, 1942, ch. 633, § 1, 56 Stat. 1012; July 26, 1955, ch. 386, § 1, 69 Stat. 379; Sept. 1, 1966, Pub. L. 89–550, § 1, 80 Stat. 371. |

In clause (1), the words “of America” are omitted.