charter
CHAR-tur
/ˈtʃɑːrtər/
A formal document issued by a governing authority granting rights, rights of establishment, and official recognition to a chapter.
Represents the official legal backing required for a campus group to function as a recognized branch.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'charta' (meaning leaf of papyrus or document), this term entered medieval English to describe royal decrees granting city rights, such as Magna Carta. In Greek life, it denotes the founding document given to local chapters.
Word relationships
- constitution: A constitution sets forth internal rules, whereas a charter is an official document from an external governing authority granting permission to operate.
- revocation: Revocation is the formal cancellation or taking back of granted rights.
Commonly confused with
- chapter: A chapter is the group of people at a school, whereas the charter is the legal document authorizing their existence.
Word family
- chartered (adjective): Officially authorized by a charter.
Collocations
- grant a charter
- revoke a charter
- charter chapter
- charter member
Example sentences
- "The national headquarters granted a charter to the student group, officially establishing them as the Beta Chapter." Organizational history
- "The university revoked the chapter's charter after severe safety violations were confirmed." Legal documents
Memory hook
A CHARTER is a written paper (charta) giving CHARGE to a chapter. Official founding license document
When not to use
Do not use for informal, unapproved campus social clubs that lack official governance.
Fun facts
- If a fraternity chapter is suspended indefinitely, national headquarters will 'surrender or revoke the charter', legally prohibiting students from using the organization's name.
Related words
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