FRANKLIN GLOBAL TRUST
N-1A, EX-99.(A)(I), 2000-09-29
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                      AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

                                      of

                             FRANKLIN GLOBAL TRUST

                           a Delaware Business Trust
                         Principal Place of Business:

                           777 Mariners Island Blvd.
                         San Mateo, California, 94404






                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                PAGE
ARTICLE I.........................................................4

      Name and Definitions........................................4
      1.01 Name...................................................4
      1.02 Definitions............................................4
           (a) Trust..............................................4
           (b) Trust Property.....................................4
           (c) Trustees...........................................4
           (d) Shares.............................................4
           (e) Shareholder........................................4
           (f) Person.............................................5
           (g) 1940 Act...........................................5
           (h) Commission and Principal Underwriter...............5
           (i) Declaration of Trust...............................5
           (j) By-Laws............................................5
           (k) Interested Person..................................5
           (l) Investment Manager or Manager......................5
           (m) Series.............................................5

ARTICLE II........................................................5

      Purpose of Trust............................................5

ARTICLE III.......................................................5

      Shares......................................................5
      3.01 Division of Beneficial Interest........................5
      3.02 Ownership of Shares....................................6
      3.03 Investments in the Trust...............................6
      3.04 Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability..6
      3.05 Power of Board of Trustees to Change
           Provisions Relating to Shares......................... 7
      3.06 Establishment and Designation of Shares................7
           (a) Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series....7
           (b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a
               Particular Series..................................8
           (c) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions,
               and Repurchases....................................8
           (d) Voting.............................................8
           (e) Equality...........................................9
           (f) Fractions..........................................9
           (g) Exchange Privilege.................................9
           (h) Combination of Series..............................9
           (i) Elimination of Series..............................9
      3.07 Indemnification of Shareholders........................9

ARTICLE IV........................................................9
      The Board of Trustees.......................................9
      4.01 Number, Election and Tenure............................9
      4.02 Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee.......10
      4.03 Powers................................................10
      4.04 Payment of Expenses by the Trust......................13
      4.05 Payment of Expenses by Shareholders...................13
      4.06 Ownership of Assets of the Trust......................13
      4.07 Service Contracts.....................................13

ARTICLE V........................................................15
      Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings...................15
      5.01 Voting Powers.........................................15
      5.02 Voting Power and Meetings.............................15
      5.03 Quorum and Required Vote..............................15
      5.04 Action by Written Consent.............................16
      5.05 Record Dates..........................................16
      5.06 Additional Provisions.................................16

ARTICLE VI.......................................................16
      Net Asset Value, Distributions, and Redemptions............16
      6.01 Determination of Net Asset Value, Net
           Income, and Distributions.............................16
      6.02 Redemptions and Repurchases...........................16
      6.03 Redemptions at the Option of the Trust................17

ARTICLE VII......................................................17
      Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees.......17
      7.01 Compensation..........................................17
      7.02 Indemnification and Limitation of Liability...........17
      7.03 Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert
           Advice, No Bond or Surety ............................18
      7.04 Insurance.............................................18

ARTICLE VIII.....................................................18
      Miscellaneous..............................................18
      8.01 Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees......18
      8.02 Termination of Trust or Series........................18
      8.03 Merger and Consolidation..............................19
      8.04 Amendments............................................19
      8.05 Filing of Copies, References, Headings................19
      8.06 Applicable Law........................................19
      8.07 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations........20
      8.08 Business Trust Only...................................20
      8.09 Use of the name "Franklin"............................20


                      AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

                                      OF

                             FRANKLIN GLOBAL TRUST


      WHEREAS,  THIS  AGREEMENT  AND  DECLARATION  OF TRUST is made and entered
into on the date  set  forth  below by the  Trustees  named  hereunder  for the
purpose  of  forming  a  Delaware   business  trust  in  accordance   with  the
provisions hereinafter set forth,

      NOW,  THEREFORE,  the Trustees  hereby direct that a Certificate of Trust
be filed with the  office of the  Secretary  of State of the State of  Delaware
and do  hereby  declare  that  the  Trustees  will  hold  IN  TRUST  all  cash,
securities  and other  assets which the Trust now  possesses  or may  hereafter
acquire  from time to time in any manner  and  manage  and  dispose of the same
upon  the  following  terms  and  conditions  for the pro rata  benefit  of the
holders of Shares in this Trust.

                                  ARTICLE I.

                             Name and Definitions

      1.01 Name.  This trust shall be known as "Franklin  Global Trust" and the
Trustees  shall  conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other
name as they may from time to time determine.

      1.02  Definitions.  Whenever used herein,  unless  otherwise  required by
the context or specifically provided:

           (a) The "Trust" refers to the Delaware  business  trust  established
by this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;

           (b)  The  "Trust  Property"  means  any and  all  property,  real or
personal,  tangible  or  intangible,  which  is  owned  or  held  by or for the
account of the Trust,  including  without  limitation the rights  referenced in
Article VIII, Section 9 hereof;

           (c) "Trustees"  refers to the persons who have signed this Agreement
and  Declaration  of Trust,  so long as they  continue in office in  accordance
with the  terms  hereof,  and all  other  persons  who may from time to time be
duly  elected or  appointed  to serve on the Board of  Trustees  in  accordance
with the provisions  hereof,  and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees
shall refer to such person or persons in their capacity as trustees hereunder.

           (d) "Shares" means the shares of beneficial  interest into which the
beneficial  interest  in the  Trust  shall  be  divided  from  time to time and
includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;

           (e) "Shareholder" means a record owner of outstanding Shares;

           (f)   "Person"   means  and  includes   individuals,   corporations,
partnerships,   trusts,   associations,   joint  ventures,  estates  and  other
entities,  whether or not legal  entities,  and  governments  and  agencies and
political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign;

           (g) The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment  Company Act of 1940 and
the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;

           (h) The terms  "Commission" and "Principal  Underwriter"  shall have
the respective  meanings given them in Section  2(a)(7) and Section  (2)(a)(29)
of the 1940 Act;

           (i)   "Declaration   of  Trust"  shall  mean  this   Agreement   and
Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time;

           (j)  "By-Laws"  shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended  from
time to time and incorporated herein by reference;

           (k) The  term  "Interested  Person"  has  the  meaning  given  it in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act;

           (l)  "Investment  Manager"  or  "Manager"  means a party  furnishing
services  to the Trust  pursuant  to any  contract  described  in  Article  IV,
Section 7(a) hereof;

           (m)  "Series"  refers  to each  Series  of  Shares  established  and
designated  under or in  accordance  with the  provisions  of  Article  III and
shall mean an entity  such as that  described  in Section  18(f)(2) of the 1940
Act, and subject to Rule 18f-2 thereunder.

                                  ARTICLE II.

                               Purpose of Trust

      The  purpose  of the  Trust  is to  conduct,  operate  and  carry  on the
business  of a  management  investment  company  registered  under the 1940 Act
through one or more Series investing primarily in securities.

                                 ARTICLE III.

                                    Shares

      3.01  Division of Beneficial  Interest.  The  beneficial  interest in the
Trust shall at all times be divided  into an unlimited  number of Shares,  with
a par value of $ 0.01 per Share.  The  Trustees may  authorize  the division of
Shares into separate  Series and the division of Series into  separate  classes
of Shares.  The different  Series shall be established and designated,  and the
variations  in the relative  rights and  preferences  as between the  different
Series  shall be  fixed  and  determined,  by the  Trustees.  If only one or no
Series (or  classes)  shall be  established,  the Shares  shall have the rights
and  preferences  provided for herein and in Article  III,  Section 6 hereof to
the extent relevant and not otherwise  provided for herein,  and all references
to Series (and  classes)  shall be  construed  (as the context may  require) to
refer to the Trust.

      Subject to the  provisions  of Section 6 of this Article III,  each Share
shall have voting  rights as  provided in Article V hereof,  and holders of the
Shares of any Series shall be entitled to receive  dividends,  when,  if and as
declared with respect  thereto in the manner  provided in Article VI, Section I
hereof.  No Shares shall have any priority or  preference  over any other Share
of  the  same  Series  with  respect  to  dividends   or   distributions   upon
termination  of the Trust or of such  Series  made  pursuant  to Article  VIII,
Section  4  hereof.  All  dividends  and  distributions  shall be made  ratably
among all  Shareholders  of a  particular  (class of a) Series  from the assets
held with  respect  to such  Series  according  to the number of Shares of such
(class of such)  Series held of record by such  Shareholder  on the record date
for any dividend or  distribution  or on the date of  termination,  as the case
may be.  Shareholders  shall have no  preemptive or other right to subscribe to
any additional  Shares or other  securities  issued by the Trust or any Series.
The  Trustees  may from  time to time  divide  or  combine  the  Shares  of any
particular  Series  into a greater  or lesser  number of Shares of that  Series
without thereby materially  changing the proportionate  beneficial  interest of
the Shares of that  Series in the assets  held with  respect to that  Series or
materially affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series.

      3.02  Ownership of Shares.  The  ownership of Shares shall be recorded on
the books of the Trust or a  transfer  or similar  agent for the  Trust,  which
books  shall  be  maintained  separately  for the  Shares  of each  Series  (or
class).  No  certificates  certifying  the  ownership of Shares shall be issued
except as the Board of  Trustees  may  otherwise  determine  from time to time.
The  Trustees  may  make  such  rules  as  they  consider  appropriate  for the
transfer of Shares of each Series (or class) and  similar  matters.  The record
books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any  transfer or similar  agent,  as
the case may be, shall be  conclusive  as to who are the  Shareholders  of each
Series  (or  class)  and as to the  number of Shares of each  Series (or class)
held from time to time by each.

      3.03  Investments in the Trust.  Investments may be accepted by the Trust
from such Persons,  at such times,  on such terms,  and for such  consideration
as the  Trustees  from time to time may  authorize.  Each  investment  shall be
credited  to the  individual  Shareholder's  account  in the  form of full  and
fractional  Shares of the Trust,  such Series (or class) as the purchaser shall
select,  at the net asset value per Share next  determined  for such Series (or
class) after receipt of the investment;  provided,  however,  that the Trustees
may, in their sole  discretion,  impose a sales charge upon  investments in the
Trust.

      3.04  Status of Shares  and  Limitation  of  Personal  Liability.  Shares
shall be deemed to be  personal  property  giving  only the rights  provided in
this  instrument.  Every  Shareholder  by virtue of having become a Shareholder
shall be held to have  expressly  assented  and agreed to the terms  hereof and
to  have  become  a  party  hereto.  The  death  of a  Shareholder  during  the
existence  of the Trust shall not operate to terminate  the Trust,  nor entitle
the  representative  of any deceased  Shareholder  to an  accounting or to take
any  action  in court or  elsewhere  against  the  Trust or the  Trustees,  but
entitles such  representative  only to the rights of said deceased  Shareholder
under this Trust.  Ownership  of Shares  shall not entitle the  Shareholder  to
any  title in or to the  whole or any part of the  Trust  Property  or right to
call for a partition  or division of the same or for an  accounting,  nor shall
the ownership of Shares  constitute the  Shareholders as partners.  Neither the
Trust nor the Trustees,  nor any officer,  employee or agent of the Trust shall
have  any  power  to  bind   personally  any   Shareholders,   nor,  except  as
specifically  provided herein,  to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of
any sum of money or assessment  whatsoever  other than such as the  Shareholder
may at any time personally agree to pay.

      3.05  Power  of  Board of  Trustees  to  Change  Provisions  Relating  to
Shares.  Notwithstanding  any other  provisions  of this  Declaration  of Trust
and  without  limiting  the  power  of the  Board  of  Trustees  to  amend  the
Declaration  of Trust as  provided  elsewhere  herein,  the  Board of  Trustees
shall have the power to amend this  Declaration of Trust,  at any time and from
time to time,  in such manner as the Board of Trustees  may  determine in their
sole  discretion,  without the need for  Shareholder  action,  so as to add to,
delete,  replace or  otherwise  modify any  provisions  relating  to the Shares
contained  in this  Declaration  of Trust,  provided  that before  adopting any
such  amendment  without  Shareholder  approval  the  Board of  Trustees  shall
determine  that it is consistent  with the fair and equitable  treatment of all
Shareholders  or that  Shareholder  approval is not  otherwise  required by the
1940 Act or other  applicable  law.  If Shares  have been  issued,  Shareholder
approval  shall be  required to adopt any  amendments  to this  Declaration  of
Trust  which  would  adversely  affect to a  material  degree  the  rights  and
preferences  of the Shares of any Series (or class) or to  increase or decrease
the par value of the Shares of any Series (or class).

      Subject to the foregoing  Paragraph,  the Board of Trustees may amend the
Declaration  of Trust to amend any of the  provisions  set forth in  paragraphs
(a) through (i) of Section 6 of this Article III.

      3.06  Establishment  and  Designation of Shares.  The  establishment  and
designation  of any  Series (or class) of Shares  shall be  effective  upon the
resolution  by a majority of the then  Trustees,  adopting a  resolution  which
sets forth such  establishment  and  designation  and the  relative  rights and
preferences  of  such  Series  (or  class).   Each  such  resolution  shall  be
incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.

      Shares of each Series (or class) established  pursuant to this Section 6,
unless otherwise  provided in the resolution  establishing  such Series,  shall
have the following relative rights and preferences:
           (A)  ASSETS  HELD  WITH   RESPECT  TO  A  PARTICULAR   SERIES.   All
consideration  received  by the  Trust  for the  issue or sale of  Shares  of a
particular  Series,  together  with all assets in which such  consideration  is
invested or reinvested,  all income,  earnings,  profits,  and proceeds thereof
from whatever  source  derived,  including,  without  limitation,  any proceeds
derived from the sale,  exchange or liquidation  of such assets,  and any funds
or payments  derived from any  reinvestment  of such  proceeds in whatever form
the same may be,  shall  irrevocably  be held with  respect to that  Series for
all  purposes,  subject  only to the  rights  of  creditors,  and  shall  be so
recorded upon the books of account of the Trust.  Such  consideration,  assets,
income,  earnings,  profits and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived,
including,  without  limitation,  any proceeds derived from the sale,  exchange
or  liquidation  of such  assets,  and any funds or payments  derived  from any
reinvestment  of such  proceeds,  in whatever  form the same may be, are herein
referred to as "assets  held with  respect to" that  Series.  In the event that
there are any assets,  income,  earnings,  profits and proceeds thereof,  funds
or payments which are not readily  identifiable  as assets held with respect to
any  particular  Series  (collectively  "General  Assets"),  the Trustees shall
allocate  such  General  Assets  to,  between  or among  any one or more of the
Series  in such  manner  and on such  basis  as the  Trustees,  in  their  sole
discretion,  deem fair and  equitable,  and any General Asset so allocated to a
particular  Series  shall  be held  with  respect  to that  Series.  Each  such
allocation  by  the  Trustees   shall  be  conclusive   and  binding  upon  the
Shareholders of all Series for all purposes.

           (b)  LIABILITIES  HELD WITH  RESPECT  TO A  PARTICULAR  SERIES.  The
assets of the Trust  held  with  respect  to each  particular  Series  shall be
charged  against the  liabilities of the Trust held with respect to that Series
and all  expenses,  costs,  charges and reserves  attributable  to that Series,
and any general  liabilities  of the Trust  which are not readily  identifiable
as being held with respect to any  particular  Series  shall be  allocated  and
charged  by the  Trustees  to and among  any one or more of the  Series in such
manner and on such basis as the  Trustees  in their sole  discretion  deem fair
and equitable.  The  liabilities,  expenses,  costs,  charges,  and reserves so
charged to a Series are herein  referred to as  "liabilities  held with respect
to" that Series.  Each  allocation of  liabilities,  expenses,  costs,  charges
and reserves by the Trustees  shall be conclusive  and binding upon the holders
of all Series for all  purposes.  All Persons who have  extended  credit  which
has been  allocated  to a  particular  Series,  or who have a claim or contract
which has been  allocated to any  particular  Series,  shall look, and shall be
required  by  contract to look  exclusively,  to the assets of that  particular
Series for payment of such credit,  claim,  or  contract.  In the absence of an
express  contractual  agreement  so  limiting  the  claims  of such  creditors,
claimants  and  contract  providers,  each  creditor,   claimant  and  contract
provider  will  be  deemed  nevertheless  to  have  impliedly  agreed  to  such
limitation  unless an express  provision to the contrary has been  incorporated
in  the  written   contract  or  other  document   establishing   the  claimant
relationship.

           (C)  DIVIDENDS,   DISTRIBUTIONS,   REDEMPTIONS,   AND   REPURCHASES.
Notwithstanding  any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust,  including,
without  limitation,   Article  VI,  no  dividend  or  distribution  including,
without  limitation,  any distribution paid upon termination of the Trust or of
any series (or class) with respect to, nor any  redemption  or  repurchase  of,
the Shares of any Series (or class)  shall be  effected by the Trust other than
from the assets held with respect to such Series,  nor,  except as specifically
provided  in  Section  7 of this  Article  III,  shall any  Shareholder  of any
particular  Series  otherwise  have any right or claim  against the assets held
with  respect to any other  Series  except to the extent that such  Shareholder
has such a right or claim  hereunder  as a  Shareholder  of such other  Series.
The Trustees shall have full discretion,  to the extent not  inconsistent  with
the 1940 Act,  to  determine  which  items shall be treated as income and which
items  as  capital;  and  each  such  determination  and  allocation  shall  be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders.

           (D)  VOTING.  All Shares of the Trust  entitled  to vote on a matter
shall vote  separately by Series (and, if applicable,  by class):  that is, the
Shareholders  of each  Series  (or  class)  shall  have the right to approve or
disapprove  matters  affecting the Trust and each respective  series (or class)
as if the Series (or classes)  were  separate  companies.  There are,  however,
two exceptions to voting by separate  Series (or classes).  First,  if the 1940
Act  requires  all  Shares  of the Trust to be voted in the  aggregate  without
differentiation  between  the  separate  Series  (or  classes),  then  all  the
Trust's  Shares  shall  be  entitled  to  vote on a  one-vote-per-Share  basis.
Second,  if any matter  affects  only the  interests of some but not all Series
(or classes),  then only the  Shareholders of such affected Series (or classes)
shall be entitled to vote on the matter.

           (E)  EQUALITY.  All the  Shares  of  each  particular  Series  shall
represent  an equal  proportionate  undivided  interest in the assets held with
respect to that Series  (subject to the  liabilities  held with respect to that
Series  and such  rights  and  preferences  as may have  been  established  and
designated  with  respect to classes of Shares  within such  Series),  and each
Share of any  particular  Series  shall be  equal to each  other  Share of that
Series.

           (F)  FRACTIONS.  Any  fractional  Share  of  a  Series  shall  carry
proportionately  all  the  rights  and  obligations  of a whole  share  of that
Series,  including  rights with  respect to voting,  receipt of  dividends  and
distributions, redemption of Shares and termination of the Trust.

           (G) EXCHANGE  PRIVILEGE.  The Trustees  shall have the  authority to
provide  that the  holders  of Shares  of any  Series  shall  have the right to
exchange  said  Shares  for  Shares  of one or more  other  Series of Shares in
accordance with such  requirements  and procedures as may be established by the
Trustees.

           (H)  COMBINATION  OF SERIES.  The Trustees shall have the authority,
without  the  approval  of the  Shareholders  of any  Series  unless  otherwise
required by  applicable  law, to combine the assets and  liabilities  held with
respect  to any two or more  series  into  assets  and  liabilities  held  with
respect to a single series.

           (i)  ELIMINATION  OF  SERIES.  At any time that  there are no Shares
outstanding  of any particular  Series (or class)  previously  established  and
designated,  the Trustees may by  resolution of a majority of the then Trustees
abolish that Series (or class) and rescind the  establishment  and  designation
thereof.

      3.07  Indemnification  of  Shareholders.  If any  Shareholder  or  former
Shareholder  shall be  exposed  to  liability  by  reason  of a claim or demand
relating to his or her being or having been a  Shareholder,  and not because of
his or her acts or omissions,  the  Shareholder or former  Shareholder  (or his
or her heirs, executors,  administrators,  or other legal representatives or in
the case of a  corporation  or other  entity,  its  corporate or other  general
successor)  shall be entitled to be held harmless from and  indemnified  out of
the assets of the Trust  against all loss and expense  arising  from such claim
or demand.

                                  ARTICLE IV.

                             The Board of Trustees

      4.01  Number,  Election and Tenure.  The number of Trustees  constituting
the  Board  of  Trustees  shall  be  fixed  from  time  to  time  by a  written
instrument  signed,  or by resolution  approved at a duly constituted  meeting,
by a majority of the Board of Trustees,  provided,  however, that the number of
Trustees  shall in no event be less  than one (1) nor more than  fifteen  (15).
The Board of Trustees,  by action of a majority of the then  Trustees at a duly
constituted  meeting,  may fill  vacancies  in the Board of  Trustees or remove
Trustees  with  or  without   cause.   Each  Trustee  shall  serve  during  the
continued  lifetime  of the Trust  until he or she dies,  resigns,  is declared
bankrupt  or  incompetent  by  a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction,  or  is
removed,  or, if sooner,  until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the
purpose of electing  Trustees and until the election and  qualification  of his
or her  successor.  Any  Trustee  may resign at any time by written  instrument
signed by him and  delivered  to any  officer  of the Trust or to a meeting  of
the  Trustees.   Such  resignation  shall  be  effective  upon  receipt  unless
specified to be effective  at some other time.  Except to the extent  expressly
provided in a written  agreement  with the Trust,  no Trustee  resigning and no
Trustee  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.  The  Shareholders  may fix the number of Trustees and
elect Trustees at any meeting of  Shareholders  called by the Trustees for that
purpose.  Any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of  Shareholders  by a vote
of  two-thirds  of  the   outstanding   Shares  of  the  Trust.  A  meeting  of
Shareholders  for the purpose of electing or removing one or more  Trustees may
be called (i) by the Trustees  upon their own vote,  or (ii) upon the demand of
Shareholders owning 10% or more of the Shares of the Trust in the aggregate.

      4.02  Effect  of  Death,  Resignation,  etc.  of a  Trustee.  The  death,
declination,  resignation,  retirement,  removal,  or incapacity of one or more
Trustees,  or all of them,  shall not  operate  to annul the Trust or to revoke
any  existing  agency  created  pursuant  to the terms of this  Declaration  of
Trust.  Whenever a vacancy in the Board of  Trustees  shall  occur,  until such
vacancy  is filled as  provided  in Article  IV,  Section  1, the  Trustees  in
office,  regardless of their number,  shall have all the powers  granted to the
Trustees and shall  discharge all the duties  imposed upon the Trustees by this
Declaration  of  Trust.  As  conclusive  evidence  of such  vacancy,  a written
instrument  certifying  the  existence  of such  vacancy  may be executed by an
officer of the Trust or by a majority  of the Board of  Trustees.  In the event
of the death, declination,  resignation,  retirement, removal, or incapacity of
all  the  then  Trustees  within  a  short  period  of  time  and  without  the
opportunity  for  at  least  one  Trustee  being  able  to  appoint  additional
Trustees to fill  vacancies,  the Trust's  Investment  Manager(s) are empowered
to appoint  new  Trustees  subject to the  provisions  of Section  16(a) of the
1940 Act.

      4.03 Powers.  Subject to the provisions of this  Declaration of Trust, the
business  of the  Trust  shall be  managed  by the Board of  Trustees,  and such
Board  shall  have  all  powers  necessary  or  convenient  to  carry  out  that
responsibility  including the power to engage in securities  transactions of all
kinds  on  behalf  of  the  Trust.  Trustees  in  all  instances  shall  act  as
principals,  and are and shall be free  from the  control  of the  Shareholders.
The Trustees  shall have full power and  authority to do any and all acts and to
make and execute any and all  contracts and  instruments  that they may consider
necessary or appropriate  in connection  with the  administration  of the Trust.
Without   limiting  the   foregoing,   the  Trustees  may:   adopt  By-Laws  not
inconsistent  with this  Declaration  of Trust  providing for the regulation and
management  of the  affairs  of the Trust and may amend and  repeal  them to the
extent that such  By-Laws do not reserve  that right to the  Shareholders;  fill
vacancies  in or  remove  from  their  number,  and may elect  and  remove  such
officers and appoint and  terminate  such agents as they  consider  appropriate;
appoint  from  their  own  number  and  establish  and  terminate  one  or  more
committees  consisting  of two or more  Trustees  which may  exercise the powers
and  authority  of the  Board  of  Trustees  to the  extent  that  the  Trustees
determine;  employ  one or more  custodians  of the  assets of the Trust and may
authorize  such  custodians  to employ  subcustodians  and to deposit all or any
part  of such  assets  in a  system  or  systems  for the  central  handling  of
securities  or with a  Federal  Reserve  Bank,  retain  a  transfer  agent  or a
shareholder   servicing   agent,   or  both;   provide  for  the   issuance  and
distribution  of Shares by the Trust  directly or through one or more  Principal
underwriters  or otherwise;  redeem,  repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to
applicable  law; set record dates for the  determination  of  Shareholders  with
respect to various  matters;  declare and pay  dividends  and  distributions  to
Shareholders  of each  Series  from the assets of such  Series;  establish  from
time to time,  in  accordance  with the  provisions  of Article  III,  Section 6
hereof,  any  Series  (or  class) of  Shares,  each such  Series  (or  class) to
operate  as a  separate  and  distinct  investment  medium  and with  separately
defined  investment  objectives  and policies and distinct  investment  purpose;
and in  general  delegate  such  authority  as they  consider  desirable  to any
officer of the  Trust,  to any  committee  of the  Trustees  and to any agent or
employee  of the  Trust  or to  any  such  custodian,  transfer  or  shareholder
servicing agent, or Principal  Underwriter.  Any  determination as to what is in
the  interests  of the  Trust  made by the  Trustees  in  good  faith  shall  be
conclusive.  In construing  the  provisions of this  Declaration  of Trust,  the
presumption  shall be in favor  of a grant  of  power  to the  Trustees.  Unless
otherwise  specified  or  required  by law,  any action by the Board of Trustees
shall be deemed  effective  if approved  or taken by a majority of the  Trustees
then in office.  Any action  required  or  permitted  to be taken at any meeting
of the Board of  Trustees,  or any  committee  thereof,  may be taken  without a
meeting if all members of the Board of Trustees  or  committee  (as the case may
be) consent  thereto in writing,  and the writing or writings are filed with the
minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees, or committee.

      Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust shall have power and authority:

           (a) To invest and reinvest  cash,  to hold cash  uninvested,  and to
subscribe for,  invest in,  reinvest in,  purchase or otherwise  acquire,  own,
hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer,  exchange,  distribute, write options on,
lend or otherwise  deal in or dispose of contracts  for the future  acquisition
or  delivery  of fixed  income or other  securities,  and  securities  of every
nature  and  kind,   including,   without  limitation,   all  types  of  bonds,
debentures,    stocks,   preferred   stocks,   negotiable   or   non-negotiable
instruments,  obligations,  evidences of indebtedness,  certificates of deposit
or   indebtedness,    commercial   paper,   repurchase   agreements,   bankers'
acceptances,  and other securities of any kind, issued, created guaranteed,  or
sponsored  by any and  all  Persons,  including,  without  limitation,  states,
territories,  and  possessions  of  the  United  States  and  the  District  of
Columbia and any political  subdivision,  agency, or  instrumentality  thereof,
any foreign government or any political  subdivision of the U.S.  Government or
any foreign government,  or any international  instrumentality,  or by any bank
or savings institution,  or by any corporation or organization  organized under
the  laws of the  United  States  or of any  state,  territory,  or  possession
thereof,  or by any  corporation or  organization  organized  under any foreign
law,  or in "when  issued"  contracts  for any such  securities,  to change the
investments  of the assets of the Trust;  and to  exercise  any and all rights,
powers,  and  privileges  of  ownership  or  interest in respect of any and all
such   investments   of  every  kind  and   description,   including,   without
limitation,  the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto,  with
power  to  designate  one or more  Persons,  to  exercise  any of said  rights,
powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments;

           (b) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage,  hypothecate,  lease,
or write  options  with respect to or  otherwise  deal in any  property  rights
relating  to any or all of the  assets of the Trust or any  Series,  subject to
any requirements of the 1940 Act;

           (c) To vote or give  assent,  or exercise  any rights of  ownership,
with  respect to stock or other  securities  or  property;  and to execute  and
deliver  proxies  or powers  of  attorney  to such  person  or  persons  as the
Trustees  shall deem proper,  granting to such person or persons such power and
discretion  with relation to securities or property as the Trustees  shall deem
proper;

           (d) To exercise  powers and right of subscription or otherwise which
in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

           (e) To hold any security or property in a form not  indicating  that
it is trust  property,  whether in  bearer,  unregistered  or other  negotiable
form,  or in its own name or in the name of a custodian  or  subcustodian  or a
nominee  or  nominees  or  otherwise  or  to  authorize   the  custodian  or  a
subcustodian  or a nominee  or  nominees  to deposit  the same in a  securities
depository,  subject in each case to proper  safeguards  according to the usual
practice  of  investment  companies  or any  rules  or  regulations  applicable
thereto;

           (f) To consent to, or participate in, any plan for the
reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any
security which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease,
mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to
pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;

           (g) To  join  with  other  security  holders  in  acting  through  a
committee,  depositary,  voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to
deposit any security  with,  or transfer  any security to, any such  committee,
depositary or trustee,  and to delegate to them such power and  authority  with
relation to any security  (whether or not so deposited or  transferred)  as the
Trustees  shall deem proper,  and to agree to pay, and to pay,  such portion of
the expenses and  compensation of such committee,  depositary or trustee as the
Trustees shall deem proper;

           (h) To compromise,  arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of
or against the Trust or any matter in  controversy,  including  but not limited
to claims for taxes;

           (i) To  borrow  funds or  other  property  in the name of the  Trust
exclusively  for  Trust,  to enter  into  joint  ventures,  general  or limited
partnerships and any other combinations or associations; purposes;

           (j) To  endorse  or  guarantee  the  payment  of any  notes or other
obligations  of any Person;  to make  contracts of guaranty or  suretyship,  or
otherwise assume liability for payment thereof;

           (k) To purchase  and pay for  entirely  out of Trust  Property  such
insurance  as the Trustees may deem  necessary or  appropriate  for the conduct
of the business,  including,  without  limitation,  insurance policies insuring
the  assets of the Trust or  payment  of  distributions  and  principal  on its
portfolio  investments,  and  insurance  policies  insuring  the  Shareholders,
Trustees,   officers,   employees,   agents,  investment  advisers,   principal
underwriters,  or independent  contractors of the Trust,  individually  against
all  claims  and  liabilities  of every  nature  arising  by reason of  holding
Shares,  holding,  being or  having  held any such  office or  position,  or by
reason of any action  alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such  Person
as  Trustee,   officer,   employee,   agent,   investment  adviser,   principal
underwriter,  or independent contractor,  including any action taken or omitted
that may be  determined  to  constitute  negligence,  whether  or not the Trust
would have the power to indemnify such Person against liability; and

           (l) To  adopt,  establish  and carry  out  pension,  profit-sharing,
share bonus, share purchase,  savings,  thrift and other retirement,  incentive
and benefit  plans,  trusts and  provisions,  including the  purchasing of life
insurance and annuity  contracts as a means of providing  such  retirement  and
other  benefits,  for  any  or all of the  Trustees,  officers,  employees  and
agents of the Trust.

      The Trust  shall not be  limited to  investing  in  obligations  maturing
before  the  possible  termination  of the Trust or one or more of its  Series.
The Trust  shall not in any way be bound or  limited  by any  present or future
law or custom in regard to  investment by  fiduciaries.  The Trust shall not be
required  to  obtain  any court  order to deal with any  assets of the Trust or
take any other action hereunder.

      4.04 Payment of Expenses by the Trust.  The Trustees  are  authorized  to
pay or cause to be paid out of the  principal  or income of the Trust or Series
(or class),  or partly out of the  principal  and partly out of income,  and to
charge  or  allocate  the same  to,  between  or among  such one or more of the
Series (or class) that may be  established  or  designated  pursuant to Article
III,  Section 6, as they deem fair,  all  expenses,  fees,  charges,  taxes and
liabilities  incurred  or  arising in  connection  with the Trust or Series (or
class),  or in  connection  with the  management  thereof,  including,  but not
limited to, the  Trustees'  compensation  and such expenses and charges for the
services of the Trust's officers,  employees,  investment  adviser `or manager,
principal   underwriter,   auditors,   counsel,   custodian,   transfer  agent,
Shareholder  servicing agent, and such other agents or independent  contractors
and such other  expenses  and charges as the  Trustees  may deem  necessary  or
proper to incur.

      4.05 Payment of Expenses by  Shareholders.  The  Trustees  shall have the
power,  as  frequently as they may  determine,  to cause each  Shareholder,  or
each  Shareholder  of any  particular  Series,  to pay directly,  in advance or
arrears,  for  charges  of  the  Trust's  custodian  or  transfer,  Shareholder
servicing  or  similar  agent,  an  amount  fixed  from  time  to  time  by the
Trustees,  by setting off such charges due from such  Shareholder from declared
but unpaid  dividends  owed such  Shareholder  and/or by reducing the number of
shares  in the  account  of such  Shareholder  by that  number  of full  and/or
fractional  Shares which represents the outstanding  amount of such charges due
from such Shareholder.

      4.06  Ownership  of Assets of the  Trust.  Title to all of the  assets of
the Trust  shall at all times be  considered  as  vested in the  Trust,  except
that the Trustees  shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust  Property
to be held by or in the  name of one or more of the  Trustees,  or in the  name
of the Trust,  or in the name of any other Person as nominee,  on such terms as
the Trustees may  determine.  The right,  title and interest of the Trustees in
the Trust  Property shall vest  automatically  in each Person who may hereafter
become a  Trustee.  Upon the  resignation,  removal or death of a Trustee he or
she shall  automatically  cease to have any right,  title or interest in any of
the Trust  Property,  and the right,  title and interest of such Trustee in the
Trust  Property  shall  vest  automatically  in the  remaining  Trustees.  Such
vesting and cessation of title shall be effective  whether or not  conveyancing
documents have been executed and delivered.

      4.07 Service Contracts.

           (a)  Subject to such  requirements  and  restrictions  as may be set
forth in the  By-Laws,  the  Trustees  may,  at any time and from time to time,
contract   for   exclusive  or   nonexclusive   advisory,   management   and/or
administrative  services for the Trust or for any Series with any  corporation,
trust,  association  or other  organization;  and any such contract may contain
such other terms as the Trustees may determine,  including without  limitation,
authority for the Investment  Manager or  administrator  to determine from time
to time without prior  consultation  with the Trustees what  investments  shall
be purchased,  held, sold or exchanged and what portion,  if any, of the assets
of the  Trust  shall be held  uninvested  and to make  changes  in the  Trust's
investments,  or such other  activities  as may  specifically  be  delegated to
such party.

           (b) The  Trustees  may  also,  at any time  and  from  time to time,
contract  with any  corporation,  trust,  association  or  other  organization,
appointing it exclusive or  nonexclusive  distributor or Principal  Underwriter
for the Shares of one or more of the Series (or  classes)  or other  securities
to be  issued  by the  Trust.  Every  such  contract  shall  comply  with  such
requirements  and  restrictions  as may be set  forth in the  By-Laws;  and any
such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.

           (c) The  Trustees are also  empowered,  at any time and from time to
time,  to  contract  with  any  corporations,  trusts,  associations  or  other
organizations,  appointing  it or them the  custodian,  transfer  agent  and/or
shareholder  servicing  agent  for the  Trust  or one or  more  of its  Series.
Every such contract shall comply with such  requirements  and  restrictions  as
may be set forth in the By-Laws or stipulated by resolution of the Trustees.

           (d) The  Trustees are further  empowered,  at any time and from time
to time,  to  contract  with any entity to provide  such other  services to the
Trust or one or more of the  Series,  as the  Trustees  determine  to be in the
best interests of the Trust and the applicable Series.

           (e) The fact that:

                (i)  any of the  Shareholders,  Trustees,  or  officers  of the
Trust  is  a  shareholder,   director,  officer,  partner,  trustee,  employee,
Manager,  adviser,  Principal Underwriter,  distributor,  or affiliate or agent
of or for any corporation,  trust, association,  or other organization,  or for
any  parent  or  affiliate  of  any   organization   with  which  an  advisory,
management  or   administration   contract,   or  principal   underwriter's  or
distributor's  contract,  or transfer,  shareholder  servicing or other type of
service  contract  may have  been or may  hereafter  be made,  or that any such
organization,  or any parent or affiliate  thereof,  is a Shareholder or has an
interest in the Trust, or that

                (ii) any corporation,  trust, association or other organization
with which an  advisory,  management  or  administration  contract or principal
underwriter's or distributor's  contract,  or transfer,  shareholder  servicing
or other type of service  contract may have been or may  hereafter be made also
has  an  advisory,   management  or  administration   contract,   or  principal
underwriter's or distributor's  contract,  or transfer,  shareholder  servicing
or  other  service  contract  with  one  or  more  other  corporations,  trust,
associations, or other organizations, or has other business or interests,

             shall not affect the validity of any such  contract or  disqualify
any  Shareholder,  Trustee  or  officer  of  the  Trust  from  voting  upon  or
executing the same, or create any liability or  accountability  to the Trust or
its  Shareholders,  provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to
the requirements of the 1940 Act.

                                  ARTICLE V.

                   Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings

      5.01 Voting  Powers.  Subject to the  provisions of Article III,  Section
6(d),  the  Shareholders  shall have power to vote only (i) for the election or
removal  of  Trustees  as  provided  in  Article  IV,  Section 1, and (ii) with
respect to such  additional  matters  relating  to the Trust as may be required
by this  Declaration  of Trust,  the By-Laws or any  registration  of the Trust
with  the  Commission  (or  any  successor  agency)  or  any  state,  or as the
Trustees  may  consider  necessary  or  desirable.  Each whole  Share  shall be
entitled  to one vote as to any  matter  on which  it is  entitled  to vote and
each  fractional  Share shall be entitled to a proportionate  fractional  vote.
There shall be no  cumulative  voting in the election of  Trustees.  Shares may
be voted in person or by proxy.  A proxy  with  respect  to Shares  held in the
name of two or more  persons  shall  be valid  if  executed  by any one of them
unless at or prior to  exercise  of the proxy the  Trust  receives  a  specific
written  notice to the  contrary  from any one of them. A proxy  purporting  to
be  executed  by or on behalf of a  Shareholder  shall be deemed  valid  unless
challenged  at or prior to its  exercise  and the burden of proving  invalidity
shall rest on the challenger.

      5.02  Voting  Power and  Meetings.  Meetings of the  Shareholders  may be
called by the  Trustees  for the  purpose of  electing  Trustees as provided in
Article  IV,  Section 1 and for such other  purposes  as may be  prescribed  by
law,  by  this  Declaration  of  Trust  or by  the  By-Laws.  Meetings  of  the
Shareholders  may also be  called  by the  Trustees  from  time to time for the
purpose of taking  action upon any other  matter  deemed by the  Trustees to be
necessary  or  desirable.  A meeting of  Shareholders  may be held at any place
designated  by the  Trustees.  Written  notice of any  meeting of  Shareholders
shall be given or caused to be given by the  Trustees  by mailing  such  notice
at least seven (7) days  before  such  meeting,  postage  prepaid,  stating the
time  and  place  of the  meeting,  to each  Shareholder  at the  Shareholder's
address  as it  appears  on the  records  of the  Trust.  Whenever  notice of a
meeting is  required to be given to a  Shareholder  under this  Declaration  of
Trust or the By-Laws,  a written waiver  thereof,  executed before or after the
meeting by such  Shareholder  or his or her attorney  thereunto  authorized and
filed  with the  records of the  meeting,  shall be deemed  equivalent  to such
notice.

      5.03 Quorum and Required  Vote.  Except when a larger  quorum is required
by  applicable  law,  by the  By-Laws or by this  Declaration  of Trust,  forty
percent  (40%) of the Shares  entitled to vote shall  constitute  a quorum at a
Shareholders'  meeting.  When any one or more  Series (or  classes)  is to vote
as a single class  separate from any other  Shares,  forty percent (40%) of the
Shares of each such Series (or  classes)  entitled to vote shall  constitute  a
quorum  at  a   Shareholder's   meeting  of  that   Series.   Any   meeting  of
Shareholders  may be  adjourned  from time to time by a  majority  of the votes
properly  cast upon the  question of  adjourning  a meeting to another date and
time,  whether  or not a quorum  is  present,  and the  meeting  may be held as
adjourned  within  a  reasonable  time  after  the  date  set for the  original
meeting  without  further  notice.  Subject to the  provisions  of Article III,
Section  6(d),  when a quorum is present  at any  meeting,  a  majority  of the
Shares  voted  shall  decide  any  questions  and a  plurality  shall  elect  a
Trustee,  except  when a  larger  vote is  required  by any  provision  of this
Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or by applicable law.

      5.04 Action by Written  Consent.  Any action taken by Shareholders may be
taken  without a meeting  if  Shareholders  holding a  majority  of the  Shares
entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger  proportion  thereof as shall be
required  by any  express  provision  of this  Declaration  of  Trust or by the
By-Laws) and holding a majority (or such larger  proportion  as  aforesaid)  of
the Shares of any Series (or class)  entitled to vote  separately on the matter
consent to the action in writing and such  written  consents are filed with the
records of the  meetings of  Shareholders.  Such  consent  shall be treated for
all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.

      5.05 Record Dates.  For the purpose of determining  the  Shareholders  of
any Series (or class)  who are  entitled  to vote or act at any  meeting or any
adjournment  thereof,  the  Trustees  may from  time to time fix a time,  which
shall be not more than  ninety  (90) days  before  the date of any  meeting  of
Shareholders,  as the record  date for  determining  the  Shareholders  of such
Series  (or class)  having  the right to notice of and to vote at such  meeting
and any adjournment  thereof,  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.  For the  purpose of
determining  the  Shareholders  of any Series (or  class) who are  entitled  to
receive  payment of any  dividend or of any other  distribution,  the  Trustees
may  from  time to time fix a date,  which  shall  be  before  the date for the
payment  of such  dividend  or such  other  payment,  as the  record  date  for
determining  the  Shareholders  of such  Series (or class)  having the right to
receive  such  dividend  or  distribution.  Without  fixing a  record  date the
Trustees  may for voting  and/or  distribution  purposes  close the register or
transfer  books  for  one or more  Series  for  all or any  part of the  period
between  a record  date and a  meeting  of  Shareholders  or the  payment  of a
distribution.  Nothing in this Section  shall be construed  as  precluding  the
Trustees  from  setting   different  record  dates  for  different  Series  (or
classes).

      5.06 Additional  Provisions.  The By-Laws may include further  provisions
for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.

                                  ARTICLE VI.

                Net Asset Value, Distributions, and Redemptions

      6.01  Determination  of Net Asset Value, Net Income,  and  Distributions.
Subject to Article  III,  Section 6 hereof,  the  Trustees,  in their  absolute
discretion,  may  prescribe  and shall set  forth in the  By-laws  or in a duly
adopted  vote of the  Trustees  such  bases  and time for  determining  the per
Share  or  net  asset  value  of  the  Shares  of  any  Series  or  net  income
attributable  to the Shares of any Series,  or the  declaration  and payment of
dividends  and  distributions  on the  Shares of any  Series,  as they may deem
necessary or desirable.

      6.02  Redemptions and  Repurchases.  The Trust shall purchase such Shares
as are offered by any Shareholder for  redemption,  upon the  presentation of a
proper  instrument of transfer  together  with a request  directed to the Trust
or a Person  designated by the Trust that the Trust  purchase such Shares or in
accordance  with such other  procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from
time to time  authorize;  and the Trust will pay  therefor  the net asset value
thereof,  in accordance with the By-Laws and applicable  law.  Payment for said
Shares  shall be made by the Trust to the  Shareholder  within seven days after
the date on which  the  request  is made in proper  form.  The  obligation  set
forth in this  Section 2 is  subject  to the  provision  that in the event that
any time the New York  Stock  Exchange  (the  "Exchange")  is closed  for other
than  weekends or  holidays,  or if  permitted  by the Rules of the  Commission
during  periods  when  trading  on the  Exchange  is  restricted  or during any
emergency  which  makes  it  impracticable  for the  Trust  to  dispose  of the
investments  of the applicable  Series or to determine  fairly the value of the
net  assets  held  with  respect  to such  Series or  during  any other  period
permitted by order of the  Commission  for the  protection of  investors,  such
obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees.

      The  redemption  price may in any case or cases be paid  wholly or partly
in kind if the  Trustees  determine  that  such  payment  is  advisable  in the
interest of the remaining  Shareholders  of the Series for which the Shares are
being  redeemed.  Subject  to the  foregoing,  the fair  value,  selection  and
quantity of  securities  or other  property so paid or delivered as all or part
of the  redemption  price  may  be  determined  by or  under  authority  of the
Trustees.  In no  case  shall  the  Trust  be  liable  for  any  delay  of  any
corporation or other Person in  transferring  securities  selected for delivery
as all or part of any payment in kind.

      6.03  Redemptions  at the Option of the Trust.  The Trust  shall have the
right at its  option  and at any time to redeem  Shares of any  Shareholder  at
the net asset value  thereof as  described in Section 1 of this Article VI: (i)
if at  such  time  such  Shareholder  owns  Shares  of  any  Series  having  an
aggregate net asset value of less than an amount  determined  from time to time
by the  Trustees  prior  to the  acquisition  of  said  Shares;  or (ii) to the
extent that such  Shareholder  owns Shares of a  particular  Series equal to or
in excess of a percentage of the outstanding  Shares of that Series  determined
from  time  to  time  by the  Trustees;  or  (iii)  to  the  extent  that  such
Shareholder  owns  Shares  equal to or in  excess of a  percentage,  determined
from time to time by the Trustees,  of the  outstanding  Shares of the Trust or
of any Series.

                                 ARTICLE VII.

             Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees

      7.01  Compensation.  The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable
compensation   from  the   Trust,   and  they  may  fix  the   amount  of  such
compensation.  Nothing  herein shall in any way prevent the  employment  of any
Trustee for advisory,  management,  legal,  accounting,  investment  banking or
other services and payment for the same by the Trust.

      7.02  Indemnification  and  Limitation of Liability.  The Trustees  shall
not be  responsible  or liable in any event for any neglect or  wrong-doing  of
any officer,  agent,  employee,  Manager or Principal Underwriter of the Trust,
nor shall any  Trustee  be  responsible  for the act or  omission  of any other
Trustee,  and the Trust out of its assets  shall  indemnify  and hold  harmless
each and  every  Trustee  from  and  against  any and all  claims  and  demands
whatsoever  arising out of or related to each  Trustee's  performance of his or
her duties as a Trustee of the Trust;  provided that nothing  herein  contained
shall  indemnify,  hold  harmless or protect  any  Trustee  from or against any
liability to the Trust or any  Shareholder  to which he or she would  otherwise
be subject by reason of willful  misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross  negligence or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

      Every note, bond,  contract,  instrument,  certificate or undertaking and
every other act or thing  whatsoever  issued,  executed or done by or on behalf
of the  Trust or the  Trustees  or any of them in  connection  with  the  Trust
shall be conclusively  deemed to have been issued,  executed or done only in or
with respect to their or his or her  capacity as Trustees or Trustee,  and such
Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.

      7.03 Trustee's Good Faith Action,  Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety.  The
exercise by the Trustees of their  powers and  discretions  hereunder  shall be
binding upon  everyone  interested.  A Trustee shall be liable to the Trust and
to any Shareholder  solely for his or her own willful  misfeasance,  bad faith,
gross  negligence or reckless  disregard of the duties  involved in the conduct
of the office of  Trustee,  and shall not be liable for errors of  judgment  or
mistakes  of fact or law.  The  Trustees  may take  advice of  counsel or other
experts  with  respect to the  meaning and  operation  of this  Declaration  of
Trust,  and shall be under no liability  for any act or omission in  accordance
with such advice nor for  failing to follow such  advice.  The  Trustees  shall
not be  required  to  give  any  bond as  such,  nor  any  surety  if a bond is
required.

      7.04  Insurance.  The  Trustees  shall be entitled  and  empowered to the
fullest  extent  permitted by law to purchase  with Trust assets  insurance for
liability  and for all expenses  reasonably  incurred or paid or expected to be
paid by a Trustee or  officer in  connection  with any claim,  action,  suit or
proceeding  in  which  he or  she  becomes  involved  by  virtue  of his or her
capacity  or former  capacity  with the Trust,  whether or not the Trust  would
have the  power to  indemnify  him or her  against  such  liability  under  the
provisions of this Article.

                                 ARTICLE VIII.
                                 Miscellaneous

      8.01  Liability  of  Third  Persons  Dealing  with  Trustees.  No  Person
dealing with the  Trustees  shall be bound to make any inquiry  concerning  the
validity  of any  transaction  made or to be made by the  Trustees or to see to
the  application  of any payments made or property  transferred to the Trust or
upon its order.

      8.02  Termination  of Trust or  Series.  Unless  terminated  as  provided
herein,  the Trust shall  continue  without  limitation of time.  The Trust may
be  terminated  at any time by vote of a majority  of the Shares of each Series
entitled to vote,  voting  separately by Series,  or by the Trustees by written
notice to the  Shareholders.  Any Series may be  terminated at any time by vote
of a  majority  of the  Shares of that  Series or by the  Trustees  by  written
notice to the Shareholders of that Series.

      Upon termination of the Trust (or any Series,  as the case may be), after
paying  or  otherwise   providing   for  all  charges,   taxes,   expenses  and
liabilities  held,  severally,  with respect to each Series (or the  applicable
Series,  as the case may be),  whether due or accrued or  anticipated as may be
determined  by  the  Trustees,   the  Trust  shall,  in  accordance  with  such
procedures as the Trustees  consider  appropriate,  reduce the remaining assets
held,  severally,  with respect to each Series (or the  applicable  Series,  as
the  case  may  be),  to  distributable   form  in  cash  or  shares  or  other
securities,  or any combination  thereof, and distribute the proceeds held with
respect to each Series (or the applicable  Series,  as the case may be), to the
Shareholders of that Series,  as a Series,  ratably  according to the number of
Shares  of  that  Series  held  by the  several  Shareholders  on the  date  of
termination.

      8.03 Merger and  Consolidation.  The  Trustees may cause (i) the Trust or
one or more of its Series to the extent  consistent  with  applicable law to be
merged into or consolidated  with another Trust or company,  (ii) the Shares of
the Trust or any Series to be converted  into  beneficial  interests in another
business  trust (or  series  thereof)  created  pursuant  to this  Section 3 of
Article  VIII,  or (iii) the Shares to be  exchanged  under or  pursuant to any
state or  federal  statute  to the  extent  permitted  by law.  Such  merger or
consolidation,  Share  conversion or Share  exchange must be authorized by vote
of a  majority  of the  outstanding  Shares of the  Trust,  as a whole,  or any
affected  Series,  as may be  applicable;  provided  that in all  respects  not
governed  by  statute  or  applicable  law,  the  Trustees  shall have power to
prescribe  the  procedure  necessary  or  appropriate  to  accomplish a sale of
assets,  merger or  consolidation  including  the  power to create  one or more
separate  business trusts to which all or any part of the assets,  liabilities,
profits  or  losses  of the Trust may be  transferred  and to  provide  for the
conversion  of Shares of the Trust or any Series into  beneficial  interests in
such separate business trust or trusts (or series thereof).

      8.04  Amendments.  This  Declaration  of  Trust  may be  restated  and/or
amended at any time by an  instrument  in writing  signed by a majority  of the
then Trustees and, if required,  by approval of such amendment by  Shareholders
in accordance  with Article V, Section 3 hereof.  Any such  restatement  and/or
amendment  hereto shall be effective  immediately  upon execution and approval.
The  Certificate  of Trust of the Trust may be  restated  and/or  amended  by a
similar  procedure,   and  any  such  restatement  and/or  amendment  shall  be
effective  immediately  upon filing with the Office of the  Secretary  of State
of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as may be stated therein.

      8.05 Filing of Copies,  References,  Headings.  The original or a copy of
this instrument and of each  restatement  and/or amendment hereto shall be kept
at the  office  of the  Trust  where it may be  inspected  by any  Shareholder.
Anyone  dealing with the Trust may rely on a  certificate  by an officer of the
Trust as to whether or not any such  restatements  and/or  amendments have been
made and as to any matters in connection  with the Trust  hereunder;  and, with
the same effect as if it were the  original,  may rely on a copy  certified  by
an  officer  of the  Trust  to be a copy  of  this  instrument  or of any  such
restatements   and/or   amendments.   In  this   instrument  and  in  any  such
restatements  and/or  amendment,   references  to  this  instrument,   and  all
expressions like "herein,"  "hereof" and "hereunder,"  shall be deemed to refer
to this  instrument  as amended or  affected  by any such  restatements  and/or
amendments.  Headings are placed herein for  convenience  of reference only and
shall  not be  taken  as a part  hereof  or  control  or  affect  the  meaning,
construction  or effect of this  instrument.  Whenever the  singular  number is
used herein, the same shall include the plural;  and the neuter,  masculine and
feminine  genders  shall include each other,  as  applicable.  This  instrument
may be  executed  in any number of  counterparts  each of which shall be deemed
an original.

      8.06  Applicable  Law. This Agreement and Declaration of Trust is created
under and is to be governed by and  construed  and  administered  according  to
the laws of the State of  Delaware  and the  Delaware  Business  Trust Act,  as
amended  from  time  to  time  (the  "Act").  The  Trust  shall  be a  Delaware
business  trust  pursuant to such Act,  and  without  limiting  the  provisions
hereof,  the Trust may exercise all powers  which are  ordinarily  exercised by
such a business trust.

      8.07 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.

           (a) The provisions of the  Declaration  of Trust are severable,  and
if the Trustees shall determine,  with the advice of counsel,  that any of such
provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated  investment  company
provisions  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code or with other  applicable  laws and
regulations,   the  conflicting   provision  shall  be  deemed  never  to  have
constituted a part of the Declaration of Trust;  provided,  however,  that such
determination  shall  not  affect  any  of  the  remaining  provisions  of  the
Declaration  of Trust  or  render  invalid  or  improper  any  action  taken or
omitted prior to such determination.

           (b) If any  provision  of the  Declaration  of  Trust  shall be held
invalid   or   unenforceable   in  any   jurisdiction,   such   invalidity   or
unenforceability  shall attach only to such provision in such  jurisdiction and
shall not in any manner  affect such  provision  in any other  jurisdiction  or
any other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

      8.08  Business  Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create
a business trust  pursuant to the Delaware  Business Trust Act, as amended from
time to time (the  "Act"),  and  thereby  to create  only the  relationship  of
trustee  and  beneficial  owners  within the  meaning of such Act  between  the
Trustees  and each  Shareholder.  It is not the  intention  of the  Trustees to
create a general  partnership,  limited  partnership,  joint stock association,
corporation,  bailment,  or  any  form  of  legal  relationship  other  than  a
business  trust  pursuant  to such Act.  Nothing in this  Declaration  of Trust
shall be construed to make the  Shareholders,  either by themselves or with the
Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.

      8.09 Use of the name  "Franklin".  The name  "Franklin" and all rights to
the  use  of  the  name  "Franklin"   belongs  to  Franklin   Resources,   Inc.
("Franklin"),  the sponsor of the Trust.  Franklin has  consented to the use by
the Trust of the  identifying  word  "Franklin"  and has granted to the Trust a
nonexclusive  license  to use the  name  "Franklin"  as part of the name of the
Trust  and the name of any  Series  of  Shares.  In the  event  Franklin  or an
affiliate   of  Franklin  is  not   appointed  as  Manager   and/or   Principal
Underwriter  or ceases to be the Manager  and/or  Principal  Underwriter of the
Trust or of any Series  using such names,  the  non-exclusive  license  granted
herein may be revoked by  Franklin  and the Trust  shall  cease  using the name
"Franklin"  as part of its name or the name of any  Series  of  Shares,  unless
otherwise  consented to by Franklin or any  successor to its  interests in such
names.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Trustees  named  below do hereby make and enter into
this Declaration of Trust on the 26th day of September, 2000.


/S/ FRANK H. ABBOTT, III                  /S/ RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR.
Frank H. Abbott, III                      Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
1045 Sansome St.                          777 Mariners Island Blvd.
San Francisco, California 94111           San Mateo, California 94404


/S/ HARRIS J. ASHTON                      /S/ FRANK W. T. LAHAYE
Harris J. Ashton                          Frank W. T. LaHaye
191 Clapboard Ridge Road                  20833 Stevens Creek Blvd.  Suite 102
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830              Cupertino, California 95014


/S/ HARMON E. BURNS                       /S/ GORDON S. MACKLIN
Harmon E. Burns                           Gordon S. Macklin
777 Mariners Island Blvd.                 8212 Burning Tree Road
San Mateo, California 94404               Bethesda, Maryland 20817


/S/ S. JOSEPH FORTUNATO
S. Joseph Fortunato
Park Avenue at Morris County
P.O. Box 1945
Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1945


/S/ EDITH E. HOLIDAY
Edith E. Holiday
3239 38th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20016


/S/ CHARLES B. JOHNSON
Charles B. Johnson
777 Mariners Island Blvd.
San Mateo, California 94404



THE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF THE TRUST IS 777 Mariners Island Blvd.,
San Mateo, California 94404



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