Corporate bylaws are a company's foundational governing document. They lay out how things should run day-to-day and the processes for making important decisions. They serve as a legal contract between the corporation and its shareholders, directors, and officers and set the protocol for how the organization operates.
By-laws Adoption. – Every corporation formed under this code, must, within one month after receipt of official notice of the issuance of its certificate of incorporation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, adopt a new code of by-laws for its government not inconsistent with this code.
1. DIRECTORS: Not less than three, unless there are only one or two shareholders of record, in which case the number of directors may be less than three but not less than the number of shareholders. 2. OFFICERS: The three required positions are President, Secretary and Treasurer.
The Certificate of Amendment can be mailed to Secretary of State, Document Filing Support Unit, 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 or delivered in person (drop off) to the Sacramento office. Certificates of Amendment are filed only in the Secretary of State's Sacramento office.
There's also the fact that if you don't list the number of directors in your Articles of Incorporation, you're legally required to list that information in your bylaws (see California Corp Code § 212). The bottom line: corporate bylaws are not legally required, but they're pretty much essential for your corporation.
LLCs are not required to have bylaws. However, they are governed by an operating agreement which is like a corporation's bylaws.
For instance, in California, HOAs must use secret ballots to vote for these changes. The process for changing HOA covenants will also need secret ballots. Counting of Votes: The next step in the process of how to change HOA bylaws and covenants is counting the ballots, which usually takes place during an open meeting.
To form a corporation in California, Articles of Incorporation must be filed with the California Secretary of State's office. Forms for the most common types of Articles of Incorporation are available on our Forms, Samples and Fees webpage. You may use the form or prepare your own statutorily compliant document.
It is important to realize, however, that bylaws are not required as a matter of law with one exception. Bylaws are required when the articles of incorporation do not specify the number of directors in a corporation.
To submit Form SI-100, you may file it online at the California Secretary of State's website or mail it to the Statement of Information Unit at P.O. Box 944230, Sacramento, CA 94244-2300. For in-person submissions, visit the Sacramento office located at 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.