What is CHARTER? Definition of CHARTER in Black's Law Dictionary - Legal dictionary - Glossary of legal terms.
v. In mercantile law. To hire or lease a vessel for a voyage. Thus, a "chartered" is distinguished from a "seeking" ship. 7 East, 24.
n. An instrument emanating from the sovereign power, in the nature of a grant, either to the whole nation, or to a class or portion of the people, or to a colony or dependency, and assuring to them certain rights, liberties, orpowers. Such was the "Great Charter" or "'Magna Charta," and such also were the charters granted to certain of the English colonies in America. See Story, Const. § 161; 1 Bla.Comm. 108.
A charter differs from a constitution, in that the former is granted by the sovereign, while the latter is established by the people themselves.
A city's organic law. Hudson Motor Car Co. v. City of Detroit, 282 Mich. 69, 275 N.W. 770, 773, 113 A.L.R. 1472.
An act of a legislature creating a corporation, or creating and defining the franchise of a corporation. Baker v. Smith, 41 RI. 17, 102 A. 721, 723; Bent v. Underdown, 156 Ind. 16, 60 N.E. 307. Also a corporation's constitution or organic law; Schultz v. City of Phcenix, 18 Ariz. 35, 156 P. 75, 76; C. J. Kubach Co. v. McGuire, 199 Cal. 215, 248 P. 676, 677; that is to say, the articles of incorporation taken in connection with the law under which the corporation was organized; Chicago Open Board of Trade v. Imperial Bldg. Co., 136 Ill.App. 606; In re Hanson's Estate, 38 S.D. 1, 159 N.W. 399, 400. The authority by virtue of which an organized body acts. Ryan v. Witt, Tex. Civ.App., 173 S.W. 952, 959. A contract between the state and the corporation, between the corporation and the stockholders, and between the stockholders and the state. Bruun v. Cook, 280 Mich. 484, 273 N.W. 774, 777.
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That's the definition of CHARTER in Black's Law Dictionary - Legal dictionary - Glossary of legal terms. Courtesy of Cekhukum.com.
