Sample Business Contracts

By-Laws - Bertucci's of Anne Arundel County Inc.

                     BERTUCCI'S OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, INC.
                                     BY-LAWS
                                    ARTICLE I
                                  Stockholders

     SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Corporation shall be held on a day duly designated by the Board of Directors, on
December 30, if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the next
succeeding day not a legal holiday, for the purpose of electing directors to
succeed those whose terms shall have expired as of the date of such annual
meeting, and for the transaction of such other corporate business as may come
before the meeting.

     SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the stockholders may be
called at any time for any purpose or purposes by the President, by a Vice
President, or by a majority of the Board of Directors, and shall be called
forthwith by the President, by a Vice President, the Secretary or any director
of the Corporation upon the request, in writing of the holders of twenty- five
per cent (25%) of all the shares outstanding and entitled to vote on the
business to be transacted at such meetings. Such requests shall state the
purpose or purposes of the meetings. Business transacted at all special meetings
of stockholders shall be confined to the purpose or purposes stated in the
notice of the meeting.

     SECTION 3. PLACE OF HOLDING MEETINGS. All meetings of stockholders shall be
held at the principal office of the Corporation or elsewhere in the United
States as designated by the Board of Directors.

     SECTION 4. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written notice of each meeting of the
stockholders shall be mailed, postage prepaid, by the Secretary, to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat his post office address, as it
appears on the books of the Corporation, at least ten (10) days before the
meeting. Each such notice shall state the place, day, and hour at which the
meeting is to be held, and, in the case of a special meeting, shall state
briefly the purpose or purposes thereof. Said notice may be waived by the
consent of all stockholders.

     SECTION 5. QUORUM. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of
record of a majority of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat shall constitute a quorum at
all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, by the
Articles of Incorporation or by these By-Laws. If less than a quorum shall be in
attendance at the time for which the meeting shall have been called, the meeting
may be adjourned from time to time by a majority vote of the stockholders
present or represented, without any notice other than by announcement at the
meeting, until a quorum shall attend. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum
shall attend, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted if
the meeting had been held as originally called.

     SECTION 6. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided
over by the President of the Corporation or, if he is not present, by a Vice
President, or if none of said officers is present, by a Chairman to be elected
at the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation, or if he is not present, any
Assistant Secretary shall act as Secretary of such meetings; in the absence of
the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary, the presiding officer may appoint a
person to act as Secretary of the meeting.
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     SECTION 7. VOTING. At all meetings of stockholders, every stockholder
entitled to a vote thereat shall have one (1) vote for each share of stock
standing in their name on the books of the Corporation on the date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Such vote may be
either in person or by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed by
such stockholder, or his duly authorized attorney, bearing a date not more than
three (3) months prior to said meeting, unless said instrument provides for a
longer period. Such proxy shall be dated, but need not be sealed, witnessed or
acknowledged. All elections shall be had and all questions shall be decided by a
majority of the votes cast at a duly constituted meeting, except as otherwise
provided by law, in the Articles of Incorporation of these By-Laws.

     If the Chairman of the meeting shall so determine, a vote by ballot may be
taken upon any election of matter, and the vote shall be so taken upon the
request of the holders of ten percent (10%) of the stock entitled to vote on
such election or matter. In either of such events, the proxies and ballots shall
be received and be taken in charge and all questions touching the qualifications
of the voters, shall be decided by the tellers. Such tellers shall be appointed
by the Chairman of the meeting.

                                   ARTICLE II
                               Board of Directors

     SECTION 1. GENERAL POWERS. The property and business of the Corporation
shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation.

     SECTION 2. NUMBER AND TERM OF OFFICE. The number of directors shall be two
(2). Directors need not be stockholders. The directors shall be elected each
year at the annual meeting of stockholders, except as herein provided, and each
director shall serve until their successor shall be elected and shall qualify.

     SECTION 3. FILLING OF VACANCIES. In the case of any vacancy in the Board of
Directors through death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause,
the remaining directors, by affirmative vote of the majority thereof, may elect
a successor to hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director
whose place shall be vacant, and until the election of his successor, or until
he shall be removed, prior thereto, by an affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the stock.

     SECTION 4. PLACE OF MEETINGS. The Board of Directors may hold their
meetings, and have one or more offices, and keep the books of the Corporation,
either within or outside the State of Maryland, at such place or places as they
may from time to time determine by resolution or by written consent of the
directors. The Board of Directors may hold their meetings by conference
telephone or other similar electronic communications equipment accordance with
the provisions of the Maryland Corporation Law.

     SECTION 5. REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may
be held without notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be
determined by resolution of the Board, provided that notice of every resolution
of the Board fixing or changing the time or place of the holding of regular
meetings shall be mailed to each director at least seven (7) days before the
first meeting held pursuant thereto. The annual meeting of the Board of
Directors shall be held immediately following the annual stockholder's meeting,
at which the Board of Directors is elected. Any business may be transacted at
any regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

     SECTION 6. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
shall be held whenever called by the direction of the President and must be
<PAGE>
 
called by the President or the Secretary upon written request of a majority of
the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall give notice of each special meeting
of the Board of Directors, by mailing the same at least seven (7) days prior to
the meetings, or by telegraphing the same at least two (2) days prior to the
meeting, to each director. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any
and all business may be transacted at any special meetings. At any meeting at
which every director shall be present, even though without notice, any business
may be transacted and any director may, in writing, waive notice of the time,
place and objectives of any special meeting.

     SECTION 7. QUORUM. A majority of the whole number of the Board of Directors
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the
Board of Directors, but, if at any meeting less than a quorum shall be present,
a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, and the
act of the vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which
there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be
otherwise specifically provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or by
these By-Laws.

     SECTION 8. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. Directors shall receive periodic
director fees for their services as such, and each director shall be entitled to
receive from the Corporation reimbursement of the expenses incurred by him in
attending any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, and, by
resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum may also be allowed for
attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and such
reimbursement and compensation shall be payable whether or not a meeting is
adjourned because of the absence of a quorum. Nothing herein contained shall be
construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other
capacity and receiving compensation therefore.

     SECTION 9. COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by
a majority of the whole Board of Directors, designate one or more committees,
each committee to consist of two or more of the directors of the Corporation,
which, to the extent provided in the resolution, shall have and may exercise the
powers of the Board of Directors, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation
to be affixed to all papers which require it. Such committee or committees shall
have such names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by
the Board of Directors.

                                  ARTICLE III

     SECTION 1. ELECTION, TENURE AND COMPENSATION. The Officers of the
Corporation shall be a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and also such
other officers including one or more Vice Presidents and/or one or more
assistants to the foregoing officers as the Board of Directors from time to time
may consider necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the
Corporation. The officers shall be elected and shall serve at the discretion of
the Board of Directors. The officers may, but need not be, directors. Any two or
more of the above officers, except those of President and Vice President, may be
held by the same person, but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any
instrument in more than one capacity if such instrument is required by law or by
these By-Laws to be executed, acknowledged or verified by any two or more
officers. The compensation or salary paid all officers of the Corporation shall
be fixed by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors.

     In the event that any office, other than an office required by law, shall
not be filled by the Board of Directors, or, once filled, subsequently becomes
vacant, then such office and all references thereto in these By-Laws shall be
deemed inoperative unless and until such office is filled in accordance with the
provisions of these By-Laws.
<PAGE>
 
     Except where otherwise expressly provided in a contract duly authorized by
the Board of Directors, all officers and agents of the Corporation shall be
subject to removal at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
whole Board of Directors, and all officers, agents, and employees shall hold
office at the discretion of the Board of Directors or the officers appointing
them.

     SECTION 2. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT. The President shall be the
chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall have general charge and
control of all its business affairs and properties. He shall preside at all
meetings of the stockholders.

     The President may sign and execute all authorized bonds, contracts or other
obligations in the name of the Corporation. He shall have the general powers and
duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of president
of a Corporation. The President shall be ex-officio a member of all standing
committees. He shall do and perform such other duties as may, from time to time,
be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

     In the event that the Board of Directors does not take affirmative action
to fill the office of Chairman of the Board, the President shall assume and
perform all powers and duties given to the Chairman of the Board by these
By-Laws.

     SECTION 3. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE VICE PRESIDENT. The Board of Directors
may appoint a Vice President. Any Vice President (unless otherwise provided by
resolution of the Board of Directors) may sign and execute all authorized bonds,
contracts, or other obligation in the name of the Corporation. Each Vice
President shall have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as
may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or by the President.

     In the case of the absence or disability of the President, the duties of
that office shall be performed by any Vice President, and the taking of any
action by any such Vice President in place of the President shall be conclusive
evidence of the absence or disability of the President.

     SECTION 4. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given,
notice of all meetings of stockholders and directors and all other notices
required by law or by these By-Laws, and in case of his absence or refusal or
neglect to do so, any such notice may be given by any person thereunto directed
by the President, or by the directors or stockholders upon whose written request
the meeting is called as provided in these By-Laws. The Secretary shall record
all the proceedings of the meeting of the stockholders and of the directors in
books provided for that purpose, and he shall perform such other duties as may
be assigned to him by the director or the President. He shall have custody of
the seal of the Corporation and shall affix the same to all instruments
requiring it, when authorized by the Board of Directors or the President, and
attest to the same. In general, the Secretary shall perform all the duties
generally incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the
Board of Directors and the President.

     SECTION 5. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall have custody of all the funds and
securities of the corporation, and he shall keep full and accurate account of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. He shall
deposit all money and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the
Corporation in such depository or depositories as may be designated by the Board
of Directors.

     The Treasurer shall disburse the monies of the Corporation as may be
ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
disbursements. He shall tender to the President and the Board of Directors,
<PAGE>
 
whenever either of them requests, an account of all his transactions as
Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

     The Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond, if required by the Board
of Directors, in a sum, and with one or more sureties; satisfactory to the Board
of Directors, for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for
the restoration to the Corporation in case of his death, resignation, retirement
or removal from office of all books, papers, vouchers, moneys, and other
properties of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to
the Corporation.

     The Treasurer shall perform all the duties generally incident to the office
of the Treasurer, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and the
President.

     SECTION 6. ASSISTANT SECRETARY. The Board of Directors may appoint an
Assistant Secretary or more than one Assistant Secretary. Each Assistant
Secretary shall (except as otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of
Directors) have power to perform all duties of the Secretary and shall have such
other powers and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by
the Board of Directors or the President in case of the absence or disability of
the Secretary, the duties of the office shall be performed by any Assistant
Secretary, and the taking of any action by any such Assistant Secretary in place
of the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the absence or disability of
the Secretary.

     SECTION 7. ASSISTANT TREASURER. The Board of Directors may appoint an
Assistant Treasurer or more than one Assistant Treasurer. Each Assistant
Treasurer shall (except as otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of
Directors) have power to perform all duties of the Treasurer in the absence or
disability of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties as may be
assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the President. In case of the
absence or disability of the Treasurer, the duties of the office shall be
performed by any Assistant Treasurer in place of the Treasurer shall be
conclusive evidence of the absence or disability of the Treasurer.

                                  ARTICLE IV
                                 Capital Stock

     SECTION 1. ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF STOCK. The certificates for shares
of the stock of the Corporation shall be of such form not inconsistent with the
Articles of Incorporation, or its amendments, as shall be approved by the Board
of Directors. All certificates shall be signed by the President or by the Vice
President and countersigned by the Secretary or by an Assistant Secretary. All
certificates for each class of stock shall be consecutively numbered. The name
of each person owning the shares issued and the address of the holder, shall be
entered in the Corporation's books. All certificates surrendered to the
Corporation for transfer shall be cancelled and no new certificates representing
the same number of shares shall have been surrendered, and cancelled, unless a
certificate of stock be lost or destroyed, in which event another may be issued
in its stead upon proof of such loss or destruction and unless waived by the
President, the giving of a satisfactory bond of indemnity not exceeding an
amount double the value of the stock. Both such proof and such bond shall be in
a form approved by the general counsel of the Corporation and by the Register of
the stock.

     SECTION 2. TRANSFER OF SHARES. Shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the
holder thereof in person or by his attorney upon surrender and cancellation of
certificates for a like number of shares as hereinbefore provided.
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 3. REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS. The Corporation shall be entitled to
treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact
thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other
claim to or interest in such share in the name of any other person, whether or
not it shall have express or notice thereof, save as expressly provided by the
Laws of Maryland.

     SECTION 4. CLOSING TRANSFER BOOKS. The Board of Directors may fix the time,
not exceeding twenty (20) days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders
or any dividend payment date of any date for the allotment of rights, during
which time the books of the Corporation shall be closed against transfers of
stock, or, in lieu thereof, the Directors may fix a date not exceeding ten (10)
days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders or any dividend payment
date or any date for the allotment of rights, as a record date for the
determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of any to vote at such a
meeting or to receive such dividends or rights as the case may be and only
stockholders of record on such date shall be entitled to notice of and to vote
at such meetings or to receive such dividends or rights as the case may be.

                                   ARTICLE V
                                Corporate Seal

     SECTION 1. SEAL. In the event that the President shall direct the Secretary
to obtain a corporate seal, the corporate seal shall be circular in form and
shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its
organization and the word "Maryland". Duplicate copies of the corporate seal may
be provided for use in the different offices of the Corporation but each copy
thereof shall be in the custody of the Secretary of the Corporation or of an
Assistant Secretary of the Corporation nominated by the Secretary.

                                  ARTICLE VI
                            Bank Accounts and Loans

     SECTION 1. BANK ACCOUNTS. Such officers or agents of the Corporation as
from time to time shall be designated by the Board of Directors shall have
authority to deposit any funds of the Corporation in such banks or trust
companies as shall from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors and
such officers or agents as from time to time shall be authorized by the Board of
Directors may withdraw any or all of the funds of the Corporation so deposited
in any such bank or trust company, upon checks, drafts or other instruments or
orders for the payment of money, drawn against the account or in the name or
behalf of this Corporation, and made or signed by such officers or agents; and
each bank or trust company with which funds the Corporation are to deposit
authorized to accept, honor, cash and pay without limit as to amount, all
checks, drafts, or other instruments or orders for the payment of money, when
drawn, made or signed by officers or agents so designated by the Board of
Directors until written notice of the revocation of the authority of such
officers or agents by the Board of Directors shall have been received by such
bank or trust company. There shall from time to time be certified to the banks
or trust companies in which funds of the Corporation are deposited, the
signature of the officers or agents of the Corporation so authorized to draw
against the same. In the event that the Board of Directors shall fail to
designate the persons by whom checks, drafts and other instruments or orders for
the payment of money shall be signed, as hereinabove provided in this Section,
all of such checks, drafts and other instruments or orders for the payment of
money shall be signed by the President or a Vice-President and countersigned by
the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer
of the Corporation.

     SECTION 2. LOANS. Such officers or agents of this Corporation as from time
to time shall be designated by the Board of Directors shall have authority to
<PAGE>
 
effect loans, advances or other forms of credit at any time or times for the
Corporation from such banks, trust companies, institutions, corporations, firms
or persons as the Board of Directors shall from time to time designate, and as
security for the repayment of such loans, advances, or other forms of credit to
assign, transfer, endorse and deliver, either originally or in addition or
substitution, any or all stock, bonds, rights, and interest of any kind in or to
stocks or bonds, certificates of such rights or interests, deposits, accounts,
documents covering merchandise, bills, and accounts receivable and other
commercial paper and evidences of debt at any time held by the Corporation; and
for such loans, advances or other forms of credit to make, execute and deliver
one or more notes, acceptances or written obligations of the Corporation on such
terms, and with such provisions as to the security or sale or disposition
thereof as such officers of agents shall deem proper; and also to sell to, or
discount or rediscount with, such banks, trust companies, institutions,
corporations, firms or persons any and all commercial paper, bills receivable,
acceptances and other instruments and evidences of debt at any time held by the
Corporation, and to that end to endorse, transfer and deliver the same. There
shall from time to time be certified to each bank, trust company, institution,
corporation, firm or person so designated the signatures of the officers or
agents so authorized; and each such bank, trust company, institution,
corporation, firm or person is authorized to rely upon such certification until
written notice of the officers or agents shall be delivered to such bank, trust
company, institution, corporation, firm or person.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                Reimbursements

     SECTION 1. REIMBURSEMENTS. Any payments made to an officer or other
employee of the Corporation, such as salary, commission, interest or rent, or
entertainment expense incurred by him, which shall be disallowed in whole or in
part as a deductible expense by the Internal Revenue Service, and which shall
cause the Corporation to pay tax on said disallowed amounts, the tax on said
disallowed amounts, shall be reimbursed by such officer or other employee of the
Corporation to the full extent of the Corporation's tax attributable to such
disallowance. In lieu of payment by the Directors, proportional amounts may be
withheld from his future compensation payments until the amount owed to the
Corporation has been recovered.

                                 ARTICLE VIII
                           Miscellaneous Provisions

     SECTION 1. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the
last day of December.

     SECTION 2. NOTICES. Whenever, under the provisions of these By-Laws, notice
is required to be given to any director, officer or stockholder, it shall not be
construed to mean personal notice, but such notice shall be given in writing by
mail, by depositing the same in a post office or letter box, in a post paid
sealed wrapper, addressed to each stockholder, officer or director at such
address as appears on the books of the Corporation, or in default of any other
address, to such director, officer or stockholder at the general post office in
the County of Anne Arundel, Maryland and such notice shall be deemed to be given
at the time the same shall be thus mailed. Any stockholder, director or officer
may waive any notice required to be given under these By-Laws.

                                  ARTICLE IX
                                  Amendments

     SECTION 1. AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS. The Board of Directors shall have the
power and authority to amend and alter these By-Laws, or any provision thereof,
and may from time to time make additional By-Laws.