Massachusetts General Laws ch. 180 sec. 2 – Definitions
Section 2. In this chapter the following words shall, unless a contrary intention appears, have the following meanings:—
Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 180 sec. 2
- Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
(a) ”articles of organization”, the articles of organization of a corporation, including any special acts, as from time to time restated or amended, including articles of merger or consolidation;
(b) ”by-laws”, the code or codes of rules adopted for the regulation or management of the affairs of the corporation irrespective of the name or names by which such rules are designated;
(c) ”corporation”, a domestic corporation (i) heretofore established either by general or special law for any one or more of the purposes mentioned in section four or (ii) organized under this chapter on or after October first, nineteen hundred and seventy-one;
(d) ”directors” or ”board of directors”, the directors of a corporation, including persons and officers having the powers of directors;
(e) ”member”, one having membership rights, whether or not designated as a member, in a corporation in accordance with the provisions of its articles of organization or by-laws.
(f) ”public charity”, a corporation holding funds subject to the provisions of section eight of chapter twelve.