---
type: "LegalText"
title: "36 U.S.C. § 80504"
description: "Membership"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 36
title_name: "PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS"
chapter_number: "805"
chapter_name: "GOLD STAR WIVES OF AMERICA"
section: "80504"
citation: "36 U.S.C. § 80504"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc36@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t36/s80504"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-36/usc36.xml"
source_hash: "79afb643acde42c9bbf736e9420af2af111e69aed8fb99c3374729ac41f628b1"
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text_hash: "02ed4fed20816d5ec56b70bc725dfbaf2989b77805a19f8dcddc1eae996ba487"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 36 U.S.C. § 80504 - Membership

## Text

(a) Eligibility.— Except as provided in this chapter, eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights and privileges of members are as provided in the articles of incorporation and bylaws.

(b) Nondiscrimination.— The terms of membership may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin.

(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1363.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 80504(a)36:1605.Dec. 4, 1980, Pub. L. 96–497, §§ 3 (related to discrimination in membership), 5, 94 Stat. 2595. 80504(b)36:1603 (related to discrimination in membership).