What are bylaws and why are they important?
Bylaws are the internal, written rules that govern your nonprofit corporation. They follow from the articles of incorporation and are subordinate to them. Because they can be more readily revised, bylaws are more detailed and deal with more specific issues. (For more information on charters and bylaws of nonprofit corporations in Maryland, see Subtitle 2. Nonstock Corporations of Title 5 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.) Bylaws perform at least three functions: they determine how an organization is structured, they determine the rights of participants in the structure, and they determine the procedures by which rights can be exercised. To create bylaws, you can either follow the instructions in a self-help resource or hire a lawyer in your state to draft them for you. Typically, the bylaws are adopted by the corporation’s directors at their first board meeting. Sources for Model Bylaws can be found on the internet and in the Maryland Nonpr
