2011 California Code
Corporations Code
TITLE 1. CORPORATIONS [100 - 14551]
PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS GOVERNING PARTS 1 THROUGH 5
Section 5056

(a) Member means any person who, pursuant to a specific provision of a corporation s articles or bylaws, has the right to vote for the election of a director or directors or on a disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a corporation or on a merger or on a dissolution unless the provision granting such right to vote is only effective as a result of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 7132. Member also means any person who is designated in the articles or bylaws as a member and, pursuant to a specific provision of a corporation s articles or bylaws, has the right to vote on changes to the articles or bylaws.

(b) The articles or bylaws may confer some or all of the rights of a member, set forth in this part and in Parts 2 through 5 of this division, upon any person or persons who do not have any of the voting rights referred to in subdivision (a).

(c) Where a member of a corporation is not a natural person, such member may authorize in writing one or more natural persons to vote on its behalf on any or all matters which may require a vote of the members.

(d) A person is not a member by virtue of any of the following:

(1) Any rights such person has as a delegate.

(2) Any rights such person has to designate or select a director or directors.

(3) Any rights such person has as a director.

(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 36, Sec. 5. Effective February 17, 1982.)