====== 3.2.1 Charter ======
[[dido:public:ra:1.3_gov:1_legaldocs|return to Legal Documents]]

A [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:c:charter|charter]] is a [[dido:public:ra:1.3_gov:1_legaldocs |legal document]] providing basic information about a [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:c:coi|community of interest (CoI)]]: its location, purpose((in the context of a DIDO CoI, think of this as another word for "Goal", "Mission", or "Vision")), profit status (usually [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:n:non-profit]]), governing board (e.g., board of directors) composition, and [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:s:stakeholder|stakeholder]] (or ownership) structure. Sometimes the charter is referred to as the articles of incorporation or a certificate of incorporation. In the case of a for-profit corporation, the articles of incorporation must include the number, classes, and par values of authorized shares. In the United States, most states require the name and address of the company’s [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:r:registered_agent|registered agent]] as well. Source: [[https://bizfluent.com/facts-5894520-difference-between-charter-bylaws-.html | Charters: Creating the Organization]]

The CoI charter is important because when it is filed and approved by a legal entity, such as a secretary of state, it "gives birth" to a new CoI as a formal corporation. A CoI charter is not the same as the CoI [[dido:public:ra:1.3_gov:1_legaldocs:2_bylaws|bylaws]], which build off the charter and add things like fundamental governing rules, board meeting schedules, conditions of membership, etc.

**Note**:
  - Charter, as described in this section, only applies to [[dido:public:ra:1.2_views:1_stakeholder:4_ecosphere |ecosphere CoIs]] that file for incorporation.  
  - [[dido:public:ra:1.2_views:1_stakeholder:3_ecosystem |Ecosystem CoIs]] and [[dido:public:ra:1.2_views:1_stakeholder:2_domain |domain CoIs]] are also created using a charter, but these charters are not legal or legally binding documents. Instead they are "subcharters" of, and must be approved by, their parent ecosphere using a process defined in the parent ecosphere's [[dido:public:ra:1.3_gov:1_legaldocs:3_pp|P&P]].
  - The Charter serves as part of the Regulatory Aspect within the Governing Model. See [[dido:public:ra:1.4_req:00_aboutreq:03_combreqmdl | Governing Roles]] and the [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.j_gov_model:start| Governing Model]] for more information. 
 

===== Essential Elements of a Charter =====
  * **Name** 
  * **Address** 
  * **Statement of Purpose**
  * **Profit Status (Usually [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:n:non-profit]])**
  * **[[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:r:registered_agent]]**
  * **Agent's Address**
  * **Number of Shares Authorized**
  * **The Classes and par value of the shares**
  * **Roles** and **Responsibilities**
  * **Directors**

===== Standards =====
  * The charter ID made specifically for the CoI (i.e., [[dido:public:ra:1.2_views:1_stakeholder:4_ecosphere | ecosphere]]).

===== Tools =====
  * Smartsheet Project Charter Template, Smartsheet, 21 May 2020, [[https://www.smartsheet.com/blog/project-charter-templates-and-guidelines-every-business-need]]
  * UpBoard, Project Charter Online Tools & Templates – Best Practices, accessed 21 May 2020, [[https://upboard.io/project-charter-online-software-tools-templates/]]

===== References =====
  * [[ https://www.smartsheet.com/essential-guide-creating-effective-team-charter | The Essential Guide to Creating an Effective Team Charter]]
  * Investing Answers, Corporate Charter, Accessed 21 March 2020, [[https://investinganswers.com/dictionary/c/corporate-charter]]
  * Investopedia, Understanding a Corporate Charter, Accessed 30 May 2020 [[https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corporatecharter.asp]]

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