SOCIETIES TO PROMOTE INTERESTS OF TRADE AND LABOR
Act 145 of 1885
AN ACT to provide for the incorporation of societies to promote the interests of trade and labor; and to impose certain duties on the department of commerce.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 425, Eff. Mar. 30, 1983

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

454.151 Society for promotion of trade and labor; incorporation; articles of association, execution; body politic.

Sec. 1.

That any number of persons not less than 5, may associate themselves together and become a body corporate and politic for the improvement of their several social and material interests, the regulation of their wages, the laws and conditions of their employment, the protection of their joint and individual rights in the prosecution of their trades or industrial avocations, the collection and payment of funds for the benefit of sick, disabled, or unemployed members, the securing of benefits to the families of deceased members, and for such other and further objects of material benefit and protection as are germain to the purposes of this act. The persons so associating shall execute articles of association as hereinafter provided, sign and acknowledge the same before some officer duly authorized by the laws of this state to take acknowledgments of deeds, and upon the execution and acknowledgment of said articles of association aforesaid, the said association shall become a body politic for the purposes set forth in said articles of agreement.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 3934a ;-- CL 1897, 7451 ;-- CL 1915, 9823 ;-- CL 1929, 10290 ;-- CL 1948, 454.151
Compiler's Notes: In the first sentence of this section, the word “germain” should evidently read “germane.”

454.152 Trade promotion societies; corporate name, powers.

Sec. 2.

Every association formed under the provisions of this act, shall have a corporate name, and may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, prosecute and defend in all courts of this state; shall hold, pay, sell, assign and lease such real, personal or mixed property as shall be required for its corporate purposes.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 3934b ;-- CL 1897, 7452 ;-- CL 1915, 9824 ;-- CL 1929, 10291 ;-- CL 1948, 454.152

454.153 Trade promotion societies; articles, contents.

Sec. 3.

The articles of association shall state:

First, The names of persons associating in the first instance with their places of residence;

Second, The purposes of the association, conforming with the provisions of this act;

Third, The corporate name and period of incorporation, not to exceed a period of 30 years;

Fourth, The terms, conditions, and qualifications of membership in the corporation;

Fifth, The officers and committees created, with the names of officers and members of committees first selected, the terms of such officers and members, and the time of holding an annual meeting.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 3934c ;-- CL 1897, 7453 ;-- CL 1915, 9825 ;-- CL 1929, 10292 ;-- CL 1948, 454.153

454.154 Trade promotion societies; by-laws, contents, enforcement.

Sec. 4.

Every association incorporated under this act shall have power to make all needful by-laws for its government and enforce the same by the usual penalties and forfeitures; may thereby establish a uniform system of dues, assessments or benefits to be levied upon members, prescribe the duties of officers, require bonds of the same for the faithful discharge of their duties.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 3934d ;-- CL 1897, 7454 ;-- CL 1915, 9826 ;-- CL 1929, 10293 ;-- CL 1948, 454.154

454.155 Trade promotion societies; officers; members; board of trustees.

Sec. 5.

The officers of the association shall consist of a president, secretary, treasurer, and board of trustees of not less than 3 members of the association. The president, secretary, and treasurer shall be ex-officio members of said board of trustees.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 3934e ;-- CL 1897, 7455 ;-- CL 1915, 9827 ;-- CL 1929, 10294 ;-- CL 1948, 454.155

454.156 Trade promotion societies; board of trustees, powers, quorum.

Sec. 6.

The board of trustees shall be the executive board of such association, and shall be charged with the general management of its affairs. Said board shall adopt by-laws for the association, and change the same at pleasure: Provided, That the by-law for the election of the members of said board of trustees and their terms of office shall be of no effect until the same is ratified by a majority vote of the members of the association. A majority of said board of trustees shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 3934f ;-- CL 1897, 7456 ;-- CL 1915, 9828 ;-- CL 1929, 10295 ;-- CL 1948, 454.156

454.157 Societies, unions, and associations as body corporate and politic; filing verified copies of constitution or articles of association.

Sec. 7.

All societies, unions, or associations of tradesmen or laborers actually existing and conducting their affaris under a constitution or articles of association, may become a body corporate and politic, for the general purposes of this act, upon filing a copy of their constitution or articles of the association, society, or union, verified by the oath of 1 of the executive officers of such society, association, or union in the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce. All societies, unions, and associations, becoming corporations as above provided, shall be subject to the provisions of this act.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 3934g ;-- CL 1897, 7457 ;-- CL 1915, 9829 ;-- CL 1929, 10296 ;-- CL 1948, 454.157 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 425, Eff. Mar. 30, 1983
Compiler's Notes: In the first sentence of this section, “affaris” evidently should read “affairs.”

454.158 Trade promotion societies; existing societies, constitution or articles in lieu of articles of incorporation.

Sec. 8.

The constitution or articles of association of the society, union, or association referred to in the preceding section of this act when filed as therein provided, shall stand in lieu of the articles of incorporation required to be executed under this act and such constitution or articles of association may provide for the election of the trustees and other officers required by this act, naming the officers to act as the first incumbents: Provided; That nothing in this section contained shall be construed so as to legalize any provisions that may be contained in said constitution or articles of association, repugnant to the general laws of this state or to public justice.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 3934h ;-- CL 1897, 7458 ;-- CL 1915, 9830 ;-- CL 1929, 10297 ;-- CL 1948, 454.158

454.159 Trade promotion societies; new corporation, rights, recovery.

Sec. 9.

All moneys, properties, or rights in action, equitably belonging to any society, union, or association at the time the same shall become incorporated under the provisions of this act, shall vest in the corporation so formed, and may be recovered by such corporation in an action of assumpsit, or on the case from any person unlawfully withholding the same.

History: 1885, Act 145, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- How. 3934i ;-- CL 1897, 7459 ;-- CL 1915, 9831 ;-- CL 1929, 10298 ;-- CL 1948, 454.159

Rendered 8/15/2025 11:29 AM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov