Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 63 Part 1.djvu/966

928 civil actions, to be an inhabitant and resident thereof. The National Trust may establish offices in such other place or places as it may deem necessary or appropriate in the conduct of its business.

3. The affairs of the National Trust shall be under the general direction of a board of trustees composed as follows: The Attorney General of the United States; the Secretary of the Interior; and the Director of the National Gallery of Art, ex officio; and not less than six general trustees who shall be citizens of the United States, to be chosen as hereinafter provided. The Attorney General, and the Secretary of the Interior, when it appears desirable in the interest of the conduct of the business of the board and to such extent as they deem it advisable, may, by written notice to the National Trust, designate any officer of their respective departments to act for them in the discharge of their duties as a member of the board of trustees. The number of general trustees shall be fixed by the Executive Board of the National Council for Historic Sites and Buildings, a corporation of the District of Columbia, and the general trustees first taking office shall be chosen by a majority vote of the members of the Executive Board from the membership of the National Council. The respective terms of office of the first general trustees so chosen shall be as prescribed by the said Executive Board but in no case shall exceed a period of five years from the date of election. A successor to a general trustee shall be chosen in the same manner as the original trustees and shall have a term expiring five years from the date of the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was chosen, except that a successor chosen to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of such term shall be chosen only for the remainder of that term. The chairman of the board of trustees shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the board. No compensation shall be paid to the members of the board of trustees for their services as such members, but they shall be reimbursed for travel and actual expenses necessarily incurred by them in attending board meetings and performing other official duties on behalf of the National Trust at the direction of the board.

4. To the extent necessary to enable it to carry out the functions vested in it by this Act, the National Trust shall have the following general powers:

(a) To have succession until dissolved by Act of Congress, in which event title to the properties of the National Trust, both real and personal, shall, insofar as consistent with existing contractual obligations and subject to all other legally enforceable claims or demands by or against the National Trust, pass to and become vested in the United States of America.

(b) To sue and be sued in its corporate name.

(c) To adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal which shall be judicially noticed.

(d) To adopt a constitution and to make such bylaws, rules, and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of the United States or of any State, as it deems necessary for the administration of its functions under this Act, including among other matter, bylaws, rules, and regulations governing visitation to historic properties, administration of corporate funds, and the organization and procedure of the board of trustees.

(e) To accept, hold, and administer gifts and bequests of money, securities, or other personal property of whatsoever character, absolutely or on trust, for the purposes for which the National Trust is created. Unless otherwise restricted by the terms of the gift or bequest, the National Trust is authorized to sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of and to invest or reinvest in such investments as it may determine from time to time the moneys, securities, or other