Real Dictionary

charter
countable noun: A charter is a formal document describing the rights, aims, or principles of an organization or group of people.

charter in American English
a franchise or written grant of specified rights made by a government or ruler to a person, corporation, etc.
to grant a charter to
adjective: of or pertaining to a method of travel in which the transportation is specially leased or hired for members of a group or association
noun: a document, issued by a sovereign or state, outlining the conditions under which a corporation, colony, city, or other corporate body is organized, and defining its rights and privileges
transitive verb: to establish by charter

charter in British English
to lease or hire by charterparty
noun: a formal document from the sovereign or state incorporating a city, bank, college, etc, and specifying its purposes and rights