Constitution and laws of this State. The assent of stockholders representing a majority of all the subscribed capital stock, or of a majority of the members, if there be no capital stock, is necessary to adopt by-laws, if they are adopted at a meeting called for that purpose; and in the event of such meeting being called, two weeks' notice of the same by advertisement in some newspaper published in the county in which the principal place of business of the corporation is located, or if none is published therein, then in a paper published in an adjoining county, must be given by order of the acting president. The written assent of the holders of two thirds of the stock, or of two thirds of the members if there be no capital stock, shall be effectual to adopt a code of by-laws without a meeting for that purpose. [Amendment in effect July 1, 1874.] 74 Cal. 574; 109 Cal. 588; 116 Cal. 414; 117 Cal. 162; 145 Cal. 702. § 302. The directors of a corporation must be elected annually by the stockholders or members, and if no provision is made in the by-laws for the time of election, the election must be held on the first Tuesday in June. Notice of such election must be given as prescribed in section three hundred and one. ment approved March 21, 1905; in effect in sixty days.] 93 Cal. 36. [Amend Note. § 302. The change consists in the omission of the words "and the right to vote determined" after "given." The right to vote is controlled by Section 307. § 303. A corporation may, by its by-laws, where no other provision is specially made, provide for: 1. The time, place, and manner of calling and conducting its meetings, and may dispense with notice of all regular meetings of stockholders or directors; 2. The number of stockholders or members constituting a quorum; 3. The mode of voting by proxy; 4. The qualifications and duties of directors, and also the time of their annual election, and the mode and manner of giving notice thereof; 5. The compensation and duties of officers; 6. The manner of election and the tenure of office of all officers other than the directors; and 7. Suitable penalties for violations of by-laws, not exceeding, in any case, one hundred dollars for any one offense. 8. The newspaper in which all notices of the meetings of stockholders or board of directors, notice of which is required, shall be published, which must be some newspaper published in the county where the principal place of business of the corporation is located, or if none is published therein, then in a newspaper published in an adjoining county; provided, that when the by-laws prescribe the newspaper in which said publication shall be made, if from any cause, at the time any publication is desired to be made, the publication of such newspaper shall have ceased, the board of directors may, by an order entered on the records of the corporation, direct the publication to be made in some other newspaper published in the county, or if none is published therein, then in an adjoining county. [Amendment in effect March 19, 1889.] 93 Cal. 38; 96 Cal. 82; 104 Cal. 653; 109 Cal. 599; 121 Cal. 208; 130 Cal. 347. § 304. All by-laws adopted must be certified by a majority of the directors and secretary of the corporation, and copied in a legible hand, in some book kept in the office of the corporation, to be known as the "book of by-laws," and the book must then be open to the inspection of the public during office hours each day except holidays. The by-laws may be repealed or amended, or new by-laws may be adopted, at the annual meeting, or at any other meeting of the stockholders or members, called for that purpose by the directors, by a vote representing two thirds of the subscribed stock, or by two thirds of the members. The written assent of the holders of two thirds of the stock, or two thirds of the members if there is no capital stock, is effectual to repeal or amend any by-law, or to adopt additional by-laws. The power to repeal and amend the by-laws, and adopt new by-laws, may, by a similar vote at any such meeting, or similar written assent, be delegated to the board of directors. The power, when delegated, may be revoked by a similar vote, at any regular meeting of the stockholders or members. Whenever any amendment or new by-law is adopted, it must be copied in the book of by-laws with the original by-laws, and immediately after them. If any by-law is repealed, the fact of repeal, with the date of the meeting at which the repeal was enacted, or written assent was filed, must be stated in said book. Until copied or stated as hereinbefore required, no by-law, nor any amendment or repeal thereof, can be enforced against any person, other than the corporation, not having actual notice thereof. [Amendment approved March 21, 1905; in effect in sixty days.] 89 Cal. 54. Note.- 304. The provisions of the old section declaring that no by-law or any amendment thereof shall take effect until copied in the book of by-laws, is amended so as to permit by-laws and amendments thereof, which have been duly passed, to be treated as valid and enforcible against the corporation and persons having notice thereof, regardless of whether or not they have been copied into the proper book. It has often happened that by-laws have been published and generally acted upon by the corporation, and by others, and then their effect has been sought to be avoided on account of the failure of the proper officer to perform his duty of copying them as the code directs. The change consists in the addition of the last sentence. $305. The corporate powers, business, and property of all corporations formed under this title must be exercised, conducted, and controlled by a board of not less than three directors, to be elected from among the holders of stock; or where there is no capital stock, then from the members of such corporations; except that corporations formed or to be formed for the purpose of erecting and managing halls and buildings for the meetings and accommodation of several lodges or societies of any benevolent or charitable order or organization, and in connection therewith, the leasing of stores and offices in such building or buildings for other purposes, the corporate powers, business, and property thereof may be conducted, exercised, and controlled by a board not less than three or more than fifty directors, to be chosen from among the stockholders of such corporation or from among the members of such order or organization. A majority of the directors must be in all cases residents of this State. Directors of corporations for profit must be holders of stock therein to an amount to be fixed by the by-laws of the corporation. Directors of all other corporations must be members thereof. Unless a quorum is present and acting no business performed or act done is valid as against the corporation. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of director, unless the by-laws of the corporation other wise provide, such vacancy must be filled by an appointee of the board. [Amendment approved March 20, 1905; in effect in sixty days.] 78 Cal. 632; 81 Cal. 234; 93 Cal. 36; 94 Cal. 549; 111 Cal. 116; 118 Cal. 138; 121 Cal. 208; 126 Cal. 416; 127 Cal. 267, 637; 130 Cal. 349, 351; 132 Cal. 652. § 306. [Repealed; in effect March 19, 1889.] § 307. All elections must be by ballot, and every stockholder shall have the right to vote in person or by proxy the number of shares standing in his name, as provided in section three hundred and twelve of this code, for as many persons as there are directors to be elected, or to cumulate said shares and give one candidate as many votes as the number of directors multiplied by the number of his shares of stock shall equal, or to distribute them on the same principle among as many candidates as he shall think fit. The provisions of this section, so far as it relates to cumulative voting, shall apply to all corporations and associations doing business in this State, having a capital stock or shares of stock, and electing directors by a meeting of stockholders held in this State, whether such corporations or associations are organized under the laws of this State or not; and no election for directors of any corporation or association, doing business in this State, and electing directors in this State, shall be valid, if the right of a stockholder to cumulate his shares as herein provided shall be denied. In corporations having no capital stock, each member of the corporation may cast as many votes for one director as there are directors to be elected, or may distribute the same among any or all the candidates. In any case the director receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. The provisions of this section, so far as it relates to cumulative voting, shall not apply to literary, religious, scientific, social or benevolent societies, having no capital stock or shares, unless it shall be so provided in their by-laws or rules. [Amendment approved March 20, 1903; in effect in sixty days.] 93 Cal. 36; 103 Cal. 363; 109 Cal. 589; 115 Cal. 590; 127 Cal. 683. § 308. Immediately after their election, the directors must organize by the election of a president, who must be one of their number, a secretary, and treasurer. They must perform the duties enjoined on them by law and the by-laws of the corporation. A majority of the directors is a sufficient number to form a board for the transaction of business, and every decision of a majority of the directors forming such board made when duly assembled, is valid as a corporate act. 78 Cal. 292, 632; 93 Cal. 38; 94 Cal. 549; 96 Cal. 82; 103 Cal. 363; 121 Cal. 208; 127 Cal. 267, 637; 130 Cal. 348; 145 Cal. 364. § 309. The directors of corporations must not make dividends, except from the surplus profits arising from the business thereof; nor must they create any debts beyond their subscribed capital stock; nor must they divide, withdraw, or pay to the stockholders, or any of them, any part of the capital stock, except as hereinafter provided, nor reduce or increase the capital stock, except as herein specially provided. For a violation of the provisions of this section, the directors under whose administration the same may have happened (except those who may have caused their dissent therefrom to be entered at large on the minutes of the directors at the time, or were not present when the same did happen) are, in their individual or private capacity, jointly and severally liable to the corporation, and to the creditors thereof, to the full amount of the capital stock so divided, withdrawn, paid out, or reduced, or debt contracted; and no statute of limitation is a bar to any suit against such directors for any sums for which they are liable by this section; provided, however, that where a corporation has been heretofore or may hereafter be formed for the purpose, among other things, of acquiring, holding, and selling real estate, water, and water rights, the directors of such corporation may, with the consent of stockholders representing two thirds of the capital stock thereof, given at a meeting called for that purpose, divide among the stockholders the land, water, or water rights so by such corporation held, in the proportions to which their holdings of such stock at the time of such division entitle them. All conveyances made by the corporation in pursuance of this section must be made and received subject to the debts of such corporation existing at |