charter

charter

charter (Latin, carta, “written document”) A legal document from a ruler or government, conferring rights or laying down a constitution. Charters in England date from the 7th century, when they were used to confirm grants of land, usually recorded in Latin. Borough charters granting towns specific privileges, which could include self-government and freedom from certain fiscal burdens, were regularly awarded by English kings between 1066 and 1216 (over 300 were issued). MAGNA CARTA (1215) was a charter which sought to regularize the feudal contract between the crown and its BARONS.

The commercial and colonial expansion of England from the 16th century led to the use of charters to authorize the trading ventures of companies (CHARTERED COMPANY) and to form the first constitutions of the English colonies in America. Such colonial charters were in the form of a grant to a company (Virginia Company 1606), or gave recognition to the self-governing status of existing colonies (as with Connecticut in 1662). The importance of these charters was recognized by the Americans during the War of INDEPENDENCE.

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"charter." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"charter." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-charter.html

"charter." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-charter.html

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charter

char·ter / ˈchärtər/ • n. 1. a written grant by a country’s legislative or sovereign power, by which an institution such as a company, college, or city is created and its rights and privileges defined. ∎  a written constitution or description of an organization's functions. 2. the reservation of an aircraft, boat, or bus for private use: a plane on charter to a multinational company. ∎  an aircraft, boat, or bus that is reserved for private use. ∎  a trip made by an aircraft, boat, or bus under charter. • v. [tr.] 1. grant a charter to (a city, college, or other institution). 2. reserve (an aircraft, boat, or bus) for private use.

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"charter." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"charter." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-charter.html

"charter." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-charter.html

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charter

charter document granting certain rights, powers, or functions. It may be issued by the sovereign body of a state to a local governing body, university, or other corporation or by the constituted authority of a society or order to a local unit. The term was widely applied to various royal grants of rights in the Middle Ages and in early modern times. The most famous political charter is the Magna Carta of England. Chartered companies held broad powers of trade and government by royal charter. In colonial America, chartered colonies were in theory, and to an extent in fact, less subject to royal interference than were royal colonies.

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"charter." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"charter." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-charter.html

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Charter

CHARTER

A grant from the government of ownership rights in land to a person, a group of people, or an organization such as a corporation.

A basic document of law of amunicipal corporationgranted by the state, defining its rights, liabilities, and responsibilities of self-government.

A document embodying a grant of authority from the legislature or the authority itself, such as a corporate charter.

The leasing of a mode of transportation, such as a bus, ship, or plane. A charter-party is a contract formed to lease a ship to a merchant in order to facilitate the conveyance of goods.

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"Charter." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Charter." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437700798.html

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charter

charter, the contract for the employment of a merchant ship or yacht. Charters are of two main types: a time charter, in which the owners of the ship provide the crew and all other requirements for operating it; and bare hull, bare pole, or bare boat charter. Hence charter party, the written deed or contract for the hiring for freight of the whole or part of a merchant vessel, for specific voyages or on a time basis.

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"charter." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"charter." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-charter.html

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charter

charter document conveying a privilege or right. XIII. — OF. chartre :- L. chartula, dim. of charta CHART.

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T. F. HOAD. "charter." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "charter." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-charter.html

T. F. HOAD. "charter." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-charter.html

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charter

charterbarter, Bata, cantata, carter, cassata, charter, chipolata, ciabatta, darter, desiderata, errata, garter, imprimatur, Inkatha, Jakarta, Magna Carta, Maratha, martyr, Odonata, passata, persona non grata, rata, Renata, Río de la Plata, serenata, sonata, Sparta, starter, strata, taramasalata, tartar, Tatar, Zapata •after, drafter, grafter, hereafter, laughter, rafter, thereafter, whereafter •chanter, enchanter, granter, planter, supplanter, transplanter, Vedantablaster, caster, castor, faster, grandmaster, headmaster, master, pastor, plaster •alabaster • telecaster • forecaster •broadcaster • sportscaster •newscaster • sandblaster •bandmaster • taskmaster •pastmaster • paymaster • ringmaster •quizmaster • spymaster •housemaster • Scoutmaster •toastmaster • schoolmaster •harbourmaster (US harbormaster) •quartermaster • substrata •sought-after

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"charter." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"charter." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-charter.html

"charter." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-charter.html

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