Corporate Charter

What does it Mean? A written document filed with a U.S. state by the founders of a corporation detailing the major components of a company such as its objectives, its structure and its planned operations. If the charter is approved by the state government, the company becomes a legal corporation.

Also referred to as "charter" and "articles of incorporation".
Investopedia Says... The details of a charter will vary based on specific regulations and the size of the company. However, at the most basic level, the charter will include the corporation's name, its purpose, the number of shares that are authorized to be issued and the names of the parties involved in the formation. This is generally the first document in the life of a corporation.

Terms Related Links

Articles Of Incorporation
Authorized Stock
Corporation
Initial Public Offering - IPO
Multinational Corporation - MNC
Securities and Exchange Commission - SEC

Terms Related Links
The Basics Of Corporate Structure - CEOs, CFOs, presidents and vice presidents: learn how to tell the difference.

Governance Pays - Learn about how the way a company keeps its management in check can affect the bottom line.

Putting Management Under The Microscope - We tell you where to find the telltale signs of corporate misdeeds.




add investopedia foot
www.investopedia.com