BY-LAWS
OF
ROCHESTER FUND MUNICIPALS
ARTICLE 1
Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Principal Office
1.1 Agreement and Declaration of Trust. These By-Laws shall be subject
to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as from time to time in effect
(the "Declaration of Trust") of the Massachusetts business trust established
by the Declaration of Trust (the "Trust").
1.2 Principal Office of the Trust. The principal office of the Trust
shall be located in Rochester, New York.
ARTICLE 2
Meetings of Trustees
2.1 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held
without call or notice at such places and at such times as the Trustees may
from time to time determine, provided that notice of the first regular
meeting following any such determination shall be given to absent Trustees.
2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Trustees may be held at
any time and at any place designated in the call of the meeting when called
by the Chairman of the Trustees, the President or the Treasurer or by two or
more Trustees, sufficient notice being given to each Trustee by the Secretary
or Assistant Secretary or by the officer or the Trustees calling the meeting.
2.3 Notice of Special Meetings. It shall be sufficient notice to a
Trustee of a special meeting to send notice by mail at least forty-eight
hours, or by telegram, at least twenty-four hours before the meeting
addressed to the Trustee at his or her usual or last known business or
residence address or to give notice to him or her in person or by telephone
at least twenty-four hours before the meeting. Notice of a special meeting
need not be given to any Trustee if a written waiver of notice, executed by
him or her before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the
meeting, or to any Trustee who attends the meeting without protesting prior
thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her. Neither
notice of a meeting nor a waiver of a notice need specify the purposes of the
meeting.
2.4 Quorum. At any meeting of the Trustees a majority of the Trustees
then in office shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting may be adjourned from
time to time by a majority of the votes cast upon the question, whether or
not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without
further notice.
2.5 Notice of Certain Actions by Consent. If in accordance with the
provisions of the Declaration of Trust any action is taken by the Trustees by
a written consent of less than all of the Trustees, then prompt notice of any
such action shall be furnished to each Trustee who did not execute such
written consent, provided that the effectiveness of such action shall not be
impaired by any delay or failure to furnish such notice.
2.6 Powers. The Board of Trustees shall have the management and control
of the affairs and business of the Trust. In addition to such powers as may
be granted to the Trustees under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the
Trustees shall have the power and authority to establish, from time to time,
a minimum total investment for shareholders, and to require redemption of the
shares of any shareholder whose investment is less than such minimum. No
such redemption shall be effected unless the Trust has given the shareholder
at least thirty (30) days' notice of its intention to redeem the shares, and
an opportunity to purchase a sufficient number of additional shares to bring
the aggregate current value of his/her shares to the minimum total investment
amount. Upon redemption of shares pursuant to this Section, the Trust shall
promptly cause payment of the full redemption price, in any permissible form,
to be made to the holder of shares so redeemed. (Amended 10/28/93)
ARTICLE 3
Officers
3.1 Enumeration: Qualification. The officers of the Trust shall be a
President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, a Secretary and such other
officers, if any, as the Trustees from time to time may in their discretion
elect. The Trust may also have such agents as the Trustees from time to time
may in their discretion appoint. The President shall be a Trustee and may,
but need not be, a shareholder; and any other officer may, but need not be, a
Trustee or a shareholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same
person.
3.2 Election. The President, the Vice President, the Treasurer and the
Secretary shall be elected by the Trustees upon the occurrence of any vacancy
in any such office. Other officers, if any, may be elected or appointed by
the Trustees at any time. Vacancies in any such other office may be filled at
any time.
3.3 Tenure. The President, the Vice President, the Treasurer and the
Secretary shall hold office in each case until he or she dies, resigns, is
removed or becomes disqualified. Each other officer shall hold office and
each agent shall retain authority at the pleasure of the Trustees.
3.4 Powers. Subject to the other provisions of these By-Laws, each
officer shall have, in addition to the duties and powers herein and in the
Declaration of Trust set forth, such duties and powers as are commonly
incident to the office occupied by him or her as if the Trust were organized
as a Massachusetts business corporation and such other duties and powers as
the Trustees may from time to time designate.
3.5 President: Vice President. Unless the Trustees otherwise provide,
the President, or if there is none or in the absence of the President, the
Vice President shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the
Trustees. Unless the Trustees otherwise provide, the President shall be the
Chief Executive Officer.
3.6 Treasurer. Unless the Trustees shall provide otherwise, the
Treasurer shall be the chief financial and accounting officer of the Trust,
and shall, subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and to any
arrangement made by the Trustees with a custodian, investment adviser or
manager, or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, be in charge of
the valuable papers, books of account and accounting records of the Trust,
and shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to
time by the Trustees or by the President.
3.7 Secretary. The Secretary shall record all proceedings of the
shareholders and the Trustees in books to be kept therefor, which books or a
copy thereof shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust. In the
absence of the Secretary from any meeting of the shareholders or Trustees, an
Assistant Secretary, or if there be none, or if he or she is absent, a
temporary Secretary chosen at such meeting shall record the proceedings
thereof in the aforesaid books.
3.8 Resignations and Removals. Any Trustee or officer may resign at any
time by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to the
President or the Secretary or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation
shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some
other time. The Trustees may remove any officer elected by them with or
without cause. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement
with the Trust, no Trustee or officer resigning and no officer removed shall
have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her
resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.
ARTICLE 4
Committees
4.1 Quorum: Voting. A majority of the members of any Committee of the
Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and any
action of such a Committee may be taken at a meeting by a vote of a majority
of the members present (a quorum being present) or evidenced by one or more
writings signed by such a majority. Members of a Committee may participate in
a meeting of such Committee by means of a conference telephone or other
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means
shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
ARTICLE 5
Reports
5.1 General. The Trustees and officers shall render reports at the time
and in the manner required by the Declaration of Trust or any applicable law.
Officers and Committees shall render such additional reports as they may deem
desirable or as may, from time to time, be required by the Trustees.
ARTICLE 6
Fiscal Year
6.1 General. Except as from time to time otherwise provided by the
Trustees, the initial fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such date as is
determined in advance or in arrears by the Treasurer, and subsequent fiscal
years shall end on such date in subsequent years.
ARTICLE 7
Seal
7.1 General. The seal of the Trust shall be circular in form and contain
the word "Massachusetts", together with the name of the Trust and the year
of its organization cut or engraved thereon but, unless otherwise required
by the Trustees, the seal shall not be necessary to be placed on and its
absence shall not impair the validity of, any document, instrument or other
paper executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE 8
Execution of Papers
8.1 General. Except as the Trustees may generally or in particular cases
authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases,
contracts, notes and other obligations made by the Trustees shall be signed
by the President, the Vice President, or the Treasurer and need not bear the
seal of the Trust.
ARTICLE 9
Issuance of Shares and Share Certificates
9.1 Sale of Shares. Except as otherwise determined by the Trustees, the
Trust will issue and sell for cash or securities from time to time, full and
fractional shares of its shares of beneficial interest, such shares to be
issued and sold at a price of not less than the par value per share, if any,
and not less than the net asset value per share as from time to time
determined in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and these By-Laws and,
in the case of fractional shares, at a proportionate reduction in such price.
In the case of shares sold for securities, such securities shall be valued in
accordance with the provisions for determining the value of the assets of the
Trust as stated in the Declaration of Trust and these By-Laws. The officers
of the Trust are severally authorized to take all such actions as may be
necessary or desirable to carry out this Section 9.1.
9.2 Share Certificates. In lieu of issuing certificates for shares, the
Trustees or the transfer agent may either issue receipts therefor or may
keep accounts upon the books of the Trust for the record holders or such
shares, who shall in either case be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to
be the holders of certificates for such shares as if they had accepted such
certificates and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the
terms thereof.
The Trustees may at any time authorize the issuance of share
certificates. In that event, each shareholder shall be entitled to a
certificate stating the number of shares owned by him, in such form as shall
be prescribed from time to time by the Trustees. Such certificate shall be
signed by the President or a Vice President and the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer. Such signatures may be facsimile if the certificate is signed by a
transfer agent or a registrar. In case any officer who has signed or whose
facsimile signature has been placed on such certificates shall cease to be
such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust
with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the time of its
issue.
9.3 Loss of Certificates. The transfer agent of the Trust, with the
approval of any two officers of the Trust, is authorized to issue and
countersign replacement certificates for the shares of the Trust which have
been lost, stolen or destroyed upon (i) receipt of an affidavit or affidavits
of loss or non-receipt and of an indemnity agreement executed by the
registered holder or his legal representative and supported by an open
penalty surety bond, said agreement and said bond in all cases to be in form
and content satisfactory to and approved by the President or the Treasurer,
or (ii) receipt of such other documents as may be approved by the Trustees.
9.4 Issuance of New Certificate to Pledgee. A pledgee of shares
transferred as collateral security shall be entitled to a new certificate if
the instrument of transfer substantially describes the debt or duty that is
intended to be secured thereby. Such new certificate shall express on its
face that it is held as collateral security, and the name of the pledgor
shall be stated thereon, who alone shall be liable as a shareholder and
entitled to vote thereon.
9.5 Discontinuance of Issuance of Certificates. The Trustees may at any
time discontinue the issuance of share certificates and may, by written
notice to each shareholder, require the surrender of share certificates to
the Trust for cancellation. Such surrender and cancellation shall not affect
the ownership of shares in the Trust.
ARTICLE 10
Provisions Relating to the Conduct of the Trust's Business
10.1 Certain Definitions. When used herein the following words shall
have the following meanings: "Distributor" shall mean any one or more
corporations, firms or associations which have distributor's or principal
underwriter's contracts in effect with the Trust providing that redeemable
shares issued by the Trust shall be offered and sold by such Distributor.
"Manager" shall mean any corporation, firm or association which may at the
time have an advisory or management contract with the Trust.
10.2 Limitations on Dealings with Officers or Trustees. The Trust will
not lend any of its assets to the Distributor or Manager or to any officer or
director of the Distributor or Manager or any officer or Trustee of the
Trust, and shall not permit any officer or Trustee or any officer or director
of the Distributor or Manager to deal for or on behalf of the Trust with
himself or herself as principal or agent, or with any partnership,
association or corporation in which he or she has a financial interest;
provided that the foregoing provisions shall not prevent (a) officers and
Trustees of the Trust or officers and directors of the Distributor or Manager
from buying, holding or selling shares in the Trust or from being partners,
officers or directors of or otherwise financially interested in the
Distributor or the Manager; (b) purchases or sales of securities or other
property if such transaction is permitted by or is exempt or exempted from
the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, or any Rule or
Regulation thereunder, and if such transaction does not involve any
commission or profit to any security dealer who is, or one or more of whose
partners, shareholders, officers or directors is an officer or Trustee of the
Trust or an officer or director of the Distributor or Manager; (c) employment
of legal counsel, registrar, transfer agent, shareholder, servicing agent,
dividend disbursing agent or custodian who is, or has a partner, shareholder,
officer or director who is, an officer or Trustee of the Trust or an officer
or director of the Distributor or Manager; (d) sharing statistical research,
legal and management expenses and office hire expenses with any other
investment company in which an officer or Trustee of the Trust or an officer
or director of the Distributor or Manager is an officer or director or
otherwise financially interested.
10.3 Securities and Cash of the Trust to Be Held By Custodian Subject to
Certain Terms and Conditions.
(a) All securities and cash owned by the Trust shall be held by or
deposited with one or more banks or trust companies having (according
to its last published report) not less than $5,000,000 aggregate
capital surplus and undivided profits (any such bank or trust company
being hereby designated as "Custodian"), provided such a Custodian can
be found ready and willing to act; subject to such rules, regulations
and orders, if any, as the Securities and Exchange Commission may
adopt, the Trust may, or may permit any Custodian, to deposit all or
any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the
central handling of securities to which all securities of any
particular class or series of any issue deposited within the system may
be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry, without physical
delivery. The Custodian may appoint, subject to the approval of the
Trustees, one or more subcustodians.
(b) The Trust shall enter into a written contract with each Custodian
regarding the powers, duties and compensation of such Custodian with
respect to the cash and securities of the Trust held by such Custodian.
Said contract and all amendments thereto shall be approved by the
Trustees.
(c) The Trust shall upon the resignation or inability to serve of any
Custodian or upon change of any Custodian:
(i) in case of such resignation or inability to serve, use its best efforts
to obtain a successor Custodian;
(ii) require that the cash and securities owned by the Trust be delivered
directly to the successor Custodian; and
(iii) in the event that no successor Custodian can be found
submit to the shareholder before permitting delivery of the
cash and securities owned by the Trust otherwise than to a
successor Custodian, the question whether the Trust shall be
liquidated or shall function without a Custodian.
10.4 Reports to Shareholders. The Trust shall send to each shareholder
of record at least semi-annually a statement of the condition of the Trust
and of the results of its operations, containing all information required by
applicable laws or regulations.
10.5 Determination of Net Asset Value Per Share. Net asset value per
share of each class or series of the Trust shall mean: (i) the value of all
the assets properly allocable to such class or series; (ii) less total
liabilities properly allocable to such class or series; (iii) divided by the
number of shares of such class outstanding, in each case at the time of each
determination. Except as otherwise determined by the Trustees, the net asset
value per share of each class shall be determined no less frequently than
once daily, Monday through Friday, on days on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading, at such time or times that the Trustees set at
least annually.
In valuing the portfolio investments of any class or series of shares for
the determination of the net asset value per share of such class or series,
securities for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued
at prices which, in the opinion of the Trustees or the person designated by
the Trustees to make the determination, most nearly represent the market
value of such securities, and other securities and assets shall be valued at
their fair market value as determined by or pursuant to the direction of the
Trustees, which in the case of debt obligations, commercial paper and
repurchase agreements may, but need not, be on the basis of yields for
securities of comparable maturity, quality and type or on the basis of
amortized cost. Expenses and liabilities of the Trust shall be accrued each
day. Liabilities may include such reserves for taxes, estimated accrued
expenses and contingencies as the Trustees or their designates may in their
sole discretion deem fair and reasonable under the circumstances. No accruals
shall be made in respect of taxes on unrealized appreciation of securities
owned unless the Trustees shall otherwise determine.
ARTICLE 11
Shareholders
11.1 Meetings. A meeting of the shareholders shall be called by the
Secretary whenever ordered by the Trustees, the Chairman of the Trustees or
requested in writing by the holders of at least one-tenth of the outstanding
shares entitled to vote at such meeting. If the Secretary, when so ordered or
requested, refuses or neglects for more than two days to call such meeting,
the Trustees, Chairman of the Trustees or the shareholders so requesting may,
in the name of the Secretary, call the meeting by giving notice thereof in
the manner required when notice is given by the Secretary.
11.2 Access to Shareholder List. Shareholders of record may apply to the
Trustees for assistance in communicating with other shareholders for the
purpose of calling a meeting in order to vote upon the question of removal of
a Trustee. When ten or more shareholders of record who have been such for at
least six months preceding the date of application and who hold in the
aggregate shares having a net asset value of at least $25,000 so apply, the
Trustees shall within five business days either:
(i) afford to such applicants access to a list of names and addresses of
all shareholders as recorded on the books of the Trust; or
(ii) inform such applicants of the approximate number of shareholders
of record and the approximate cost of mailing material to them,
and, within a reasonable time thereafter, mail, at the
applicant's expense, materials submitted by the applicants, to
all such shareholders of record. The Trustees shall not be
obligated to mail materials which they believe to be misleading
or in violation of applicable law.
11.3 Record Dates. For the purposes of determining the shareholders of
any class or series of shares of the Trust who are entitled to vote or act at
any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or who are entitled to receive
payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from
time to time fix a time, which shall be not more than 90 days before the date
of any meeting of shareholders or more than 60 days before the date of
payment or any dividend or of any other distribution, as the record date for
determining the shareholders of such class or series having the right to
notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof or the
right to receive such dividend or distribution, and in such case only
shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right
notwithstanding any transfer of shares on the books of the Trust after the
record date; or without fixing such record date the Trustees may for any such
purposes close the register or transfer books for all or part of such period.
ARTICLE 12
Amendments to By-Laws
12.1 General. These By-Laws may be amended or repealed in whole or in
part, by a majority the Trustees then in office at any meeting of the
Trustees, or by one or more writings signed by such a majority.
