公司章程是关于公司如何运营的规则。在美国，公司章程通常是在公司成立过程中制定的，详细规定了如何决策、谁有权决策以及公司如何运营。章程为公司提供了结构和方向，有助于避免今后出现混乱或冲突。它们设定了明确的预期，并规定了董事会会议的召开频率、投票方式、新董事会成员的选举方式以及公司发行新股的方式。美国法律规定，大多数公司都必须制定章程。

虽然公司章程听起来有些形式化，但随着企业的发展，它们对透明度和法律保护非常重要。下面，我们将介绍公司章程中包含的信息、如何起草公司章程的模板，以及如何设计适合贵公司需要的公司章程的指导。

目录

• 什么是公司章程？
  
• 公司章程应包括哪些内容？
  
• 公司章程示例：完整模板
  
• 如何起草适合您企业的公司章程
  

什么是公司章程？

公司章程是公司的基础管理文件。它们规定了日常工作的运行方式和重要决策的流程。它们是公司与其股东、董事和高级管理人员之间的法律合同，规定了组织的运作方式。它们还确保公司遵守州和联邦法律。

创始人通常会在注册公司时通过公司章程。虽然长成一般不向州政府备案，但它们具有法律约束力，在发生纠纷时可在法庭上使用。对于规模较大或较为复杂的公司，公司章程可以相当详细，特别是关于不同类别的股份或股东之间的具体协议。但是，即使对于规模较小的企业，公司章程也有助于避免误解，并确保公司在发展过程中顺利运行。

公司章程应包括哪些内容？

每家公司的公司章程具体规定略有不同，取决于其独特的考虑因素和经营方式。但通常包括以下内容：

• 董事会：章程规定了董事会的结构、权力和运作。这包括企业如何选举董事、董事的任期以及需要更换董事的情形。公司章程还规定了会议规则，例如必须有多少董事出席（即法定人数）、如何进行表决以及可能设立哪些委员会。

• 高级管理人员及其作用：章程概述了公司主要高级管理人员（如首席执行官 [CEO]、首席财务官 [CFO]、秘书）的角色，并规定了他们的职责。公司章程还说明了企业如何任命或罢免高级管理人员，以及谁有权在公司内部做出决策。

• 股东大会：章程还规定了企业如何召开股东大会（包括年度会议和特别会议）。它们还规定了企业如何通知股东召开会议、如何进行投票（包括代理投票）以及公司如何转让或出售股份。

• 利益冲突：章程规定了如何处理任何潜在的利益冲突，尤其是董事会成员或高管。这些规则促进了透明度和问责制，使所有高级管理人员的行为都符合公司的最佳利益。

• 修订：这些规则规定了如何随着时间的推移更新或修订章程。

• 其他公司程序：章程通常还详细规定了董事和高管赔偿、公司记录保存、财政年度设定和公司解散等程序。

Example of corporate bylaws: A complete template

Here’s a sample template for basic corporate bylaws. This template covers the essentials for most corporations, but additional sections or modifications might be necessary.

CORPORATE BYLAWS OF [COMPANY NAME]

ARTICLE I – OFFICES

Principal Office
The principal office of the corporation will be located at [Address]. The board of directors may change the location of the principal office at any time.

Other Offices
The corporation may have additional offices as determined by the board of directors.

ARTICLE II – SHAREHOLDERS

Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of shareholders will be held at [Time] on [Date] of each year, or at such other time and place as the board of directors may determine, to elect directors and transact any other business that comes before the meeting.

Special Meetings
Special meetings of shareholders may be called by the president, the board of directors, or shareholders holding at least [Percentage] of the outstanding shares.

Notice of Meetings
Written notice stating the place, date, and time of any meeting of shareholders must be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting not less than [Number] days and not more than [Number] days before the date of the meeting.

Quorum
The holders of [Percentage] of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum.

Voting Rights
Each shareholder will have one vote for each share of stock held. Voting may be done in person or by proxy.

ARTICLE III – DIRECTORS

General Powers
The business and affairs of the corporation will be managed by its board of directors.

Number and Qualifications
The number of directors will be [Number], unless changed by amendment to these bylaws. Directors need not be residents of the state or shareholders of the corporation.

Term of Office
Each director will hold office for [Number] years or until their successor is elected and qualified.

Meetings
Regular meetings of the board will be held [Frequency] at [Location], unless the board designates otherwise. Special meetings may be called by the president or any two directors.

Notice
Notice of regular or special meetings of the board will be given at least [Number] days before the meeting.

Quorum and Voting
A majority of the board will constitute a quorum. The act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be the act of the board.

Vacancies
Any vacancy on the board may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors. A director appointed to fill a vacancy will serve for the unexpired term of their predecessor.

Indemnification
The corporation will indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law against any expenses, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such persons.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

Officers
The officers of the corporation will be a president, a secretary, a treasurer, and any other officers the board deems necessary.

Election and Term
The officers will be elected by the board of directors at its first meeting following the annual shareholders’ meeting. Officers will serve for a term of [Number] year(s) or until their successors are duly elected.

Duties

• President: The president will be the chief executive officer of the corporation and will supervise and control the business and affairs of the corporation.
  
• Secretary: The secretary will keep the minutes of the meetings of shareholders and directors and see that all notices are duly given.
  
• Treasurer: The treasurer will have charge and custody of all funds and oversee financial records of the corporation.
  

Removal of Officers
Any officer may be removed by a majority vote of the board whenever the board determines it is in the best interest of the corporation.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

Executive Committee
The board of directors may designate an Executive Committee consisting of [Number] board members, giving this committee the powers and authority of the board in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation.

Other Committees
The corporation shall have other committees that may be designated by the board of directors.

ARTICLE VI – RECORDS, REPORTS, AND SEAL

Records
The corporation will keep correct and complete books and records of account and will also keep minutes of the proceedings of its shareholders and board of directors.

Reports
The board shall create any annual or periodic reports required under law to be prepared and delivered to an office of this state.

Corporate Seal
The board of directors may adopt a corporate seal, which will have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the state of incorporation.

ARTICLE VII - GENERAL MATTERS

Dividends
The board of directors may declare dividends, subject to the provisions of the articles of incorporation and applicable law.

Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the corporation will begin on the [Date] of [Month] each year and end on the [Date] of [Month].

Transfer of Stock
Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the corporation.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of the board of directors or by the shareholders.

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that these bylaws were adopted by the board of directors of [Company Name] on [Date].

[Secretary’s Name]
Secretary

如何起草适合您企业的公司章程

如果您想让公司章程为您的企业服务，它们就必须适合您公司的运作方式。以下是如何起草章程，这些章程不仅要遵循惯例，还要支持您的特定目标：

• 领导角色：决定您真正需要多少名董事和高级管理人员，并根据企业的运行方式明确界定他们的角色。

• 表决和股东规则：调整投票权和会议规则，以适应公司的规模和结构。规模较小的公司可能需要更多的灵活性或减少正式会议。

• 会议频率：详细说明董事会或股东会的召开频率，是每年、每季度还是根据需要召开。

• 利益冲突：添加防止利益冲突的具体规则，特别是如果您的企业受行业法规约束。

• 赔偿：决定您想为您的董事和高管提供多少法律风险保护。

• 修订：制定修改章程的程序，无论是简单多数表决还是更严格的程序。建立灵活性，使您的公司章程能够随着公司的发展或变化而发展。

• 州法律合规：确保您的公司章程符合您所在州的具体法律要求。

• 行业特定规则：添加适用于贵企业所处行业的任何具体指导原则，如合规或审计程序。

• 股东协议：如果您有股东协议，确保它与公司章程中的内容一致，尤其是在关键决策方面。