BY-LAWS 
ARTICLE I. 
Sec. 1. The Recording Secretary shall give at 
least two weeks notice, in two or more of the news¬ 
papers published in the City of Washington, of 
every annual meeting. 
Sec. 2. Stated and special meetings shall be called 
by or through the Recording Secretary. 
Sec. 3. A quorum to do business shall consist of 
at least ten resident members entitled to vote. 
Sec. 4. A member introducing a stranger shall 
hand his name and place of residence, in writing, 
to the presiding officer. 
Sec. 5. The order of business at stated meetings 
shall be as follows, viz : 
1. Reading the minutes. 
2. Nomination of candidates for membership. 
3. Election of candidates. 
4. Notice of contributions and deposites. 
5. Reading reports and communications— 
I. From officers of the Board of Management, 
II. From Departments. 
III. From Committees. 
IV. From individual members. 
(a.) Honorary. 
(b.) Corresponding. 
(c.) Resident. 
6. Extraordinary business. 
Sec. 6. At the annual meeting, the election of 
officers shall succeed to the reading of reports. 
Sec. 7. At special meetings, the object for which 
the meeting was called shall have precedence of all 
other matters, after the reading of the minutes. 
Sec. 8. A suspension of the regular order of bu¬ 
siness for a specific purpose may, at any time, be 
had, two-thirds of the resident members present, 
who are entitled to a vote, concurring therein. 
ARTICLE 11.-0/* Officers. 
Sec. 1. Refore entering on his duties, the Trea¬ 
surer shall give bond to the Trustees in such sum, 
and with such security, as the Board of Manage¬ 
ment may deem appropriate for the security of the 
funds of the Institution and the faithful discharge 
of his duties. 
Sec. 2. The Treasurer shall keep an account of 
the receipts and disbursements made by him, and 
make a report thereof to the Board of Management, 
at the stated meeting in December annually. His 
books and papers shall be always open to the inspec¬ 
tion (at his office) of the said board, or any com¬ 
mittee that may be appointed by the Institution. 
Sec. 3. The Treasurer shall receive all dues, 
being authorized, hereby, to employ a collector 
thereof, and shall pay out the money of the Institu¬ 
tion upon accounts passed at stated meetings, and I 
not otherwise. 
Sec. 4. All money, books, papers, &e., appertain-, 
ing to the office of the Treasurer, shall be transfer¬ 
red to his successor. 
Sec, 5. The Corresponding Secretary shall con¬ 
duct the correspondence, under the direction of the 
Institution. All papers, letters, &c., appertaining 
to his duties shall he subject to the disposal of the 
Institution; and what may remain in his hands at' 
the end of his term shall be transferred to his suc¬ 
cessor. 
Sec. 6. The Recording Secretary shall keep a 
journal of the proceedings of the Institution, and 
also of the Board of Management; shall sign all or¬ 
ders made by either, in attestation of their correct¬ 
ness ; call meetings, and, generally, perform such 
duties as attach to his office; anil, at the end of his 
term, transfer all books, papers, &c., in his posses¬ 
sion, belonging to the Institution, to his successor. 
Sec. 7. A report shall be made by the Board of 
Management to the annual meetings, of the general 
as well as fiscal concerns of the Institution. 
ARTICLE III .—Of Expenditures. 
Sec. 1. No expenditure shall be made for, or in 
the name of the Institution, without its direction. 
ARTICLE IV. 
Sec. 1. All elections shall be made by ballot, and 
a majority of all the members present entitled to 
vote shall be necessary for the election of officers. 
Sec. 2. Vacancies shall be filled by the Institution 
at the next meeting after their occurrence. 
ARTICLE V.— Of the Departments. 
Sec. 1. The departments of the Institution shall 
consist, for the present, of— 
1. Chemistry. 
2. Geology and Mineralogy. 
3. Geography, Astronomy, and Nat. Philosophy. 
4. Natural History. 
5. The application of Science to the Useful Arts. 
6. American History and Antiquities. 
7. Agriculture. 
8. Literature and the Fine Arts. 
Sec. 2. The Institution, at any stated meeting, 
may add and organize any other department that its 
wants or condition may justify. 
Sec. 3. Every resident member shall join one or 
more of the departments. 
Sec. 4. Each department shall have power to or¬ 
ganize and subdivide itself into sections, and make 
such regulations as may be necessary for its govern¬ 
ment, provided they do not conflict with the Consti¬ 
tution or laws of the Institution. 
Sec. 5. Each department shall keep, or cause to 
be kept, full minutes of its proceedings, and submit 
the same, or such portion thereof as may promote 
the cause of Science, to the Institution, as often as 
it may deem proper, or as called on to that effect. 
Sec. 6. Each department shall have the direction 
of the arrangement of that portion of the Cabinet, 
and the instruments appertaining to it, as relates to 
the branch of Science under the care of such depart¬ 
ment, subject to the supervision of the United States* 
Curators. 
Sec. 7. Each department shall make an annual 
report to the Board of Management at the stated 
meeting in December, embracing its condition, pro¬ 
gress, and operations during the year, together with 
suggestions for improving its usefulness for the en¬ 
suing year. 
ARTICLE VI.—0/ the Cabinet. 
Sec. 1. Donations made to the Cabinet shall be 
marked with the name of the donor. 
Sec. 2. Specimens may be placed in the Cabinet 
on special deposite, subject to removal by giving 
the Institution previous notice at some stated meet¬ 
ing. 
ARTICLE VII. 
Sec. 1. The Annual and Stated Meetings shall be 
held at such places as shall be determined upon by 
the Institution. 
Sec. 2. The place of holding a Special Meeting 
shall be designated by thoje by whom the said meet¬ 
ing shall be ordered. 
