Which document specifies the name, life span, and powers of the corporation?

• A. Bylaws
• B. Stock certificate
• C. Corporate charter (articles of incorporation)
• D. Operating agreement

Answer: (C)

The document that defines a corporation’s essential facts—its name, how long it will exist, and the powers it has to operate—is the corporate charter, also known as the articles of incorporation. This charter is filed with the state when the business is formed and creates the legal identity and scope of the corporation.

Bylaws, in contrast, are the internal rules that govern how the corporation runs, including procedures for meetings and voting. A stock certificate is simply evidence of ownership in the company, not a formal description of the entity’s existence or authority. An operating agreement is used for LLCs to outline ownership and operating rules, not for corporations.

So the corporate charter is the document that specifies the name, life span, and powers of the corporation.