Florida Community Association Manager Practice Exam

Which documents must be filed with the Secretary of State?

1. Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions

2. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

3. Annual Reports and Operating Agreements

4. Rules and Regulations

The correct answer is: Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are essential documents that must be filed with the Secretary of State for a community association. The Articles of Incorporation serve to establish the existence of the corporation, providing critical information such as the name of the corporation, its purpose, and details about its structure. Filing these documents is a necessary step to ensure that the association operates legally and is recognized as a corporate entity. Bylaws, on the other hand, outline the internal rules governing the operation of the association, detailing how decisions are made, how meetings are conducted, and the roles and responsibilities of board members. These documents are fundamental in guiding the administration of the association and clarifying the rights and responsibilities of its members. The other documents listed, such as the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions, Annual Reports, Operating Agreements, and Rules and Regulations, while important for the governance and operation of the community association, do not have the same requirement to be filed with the Secretary of State. For example, the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions typically needs to be recorded in the county where the property is located, but not filed with the Secretary of State. Annual Reports are often required to be filed but pertain to the corporation's operational status rather than its foundational