Charte \Charte\, n. [F. See Chart.]
   The constitution, or fundamental law, of the French monarchy,
   as established on the restoration of Louis XVIII., in 1814.
   [1913 Webster]

CHARTER. A grant made by the sovereign either to the whole people or to a 
portion of them, securing to them the enjoyment of certain rights. Of the 
former kind is the late charter of France, which extended to the whole 
country; the charters which were granted to the different American colonies 
by the British government were charters of the latter species. 1 Story, 
Const. L. Sec. 161; 1 Bl. Com. 108 Encycl. Amer. Charte Constitutionelle. 
     2. A charter differs from a CONSTITUTION in this, that the former is 
granted by the sovereign, while the latter is established by the people 
themselves : both are the fundamental law of the land. 
     3. This term is susceptible of another signification. During the middle 
ages almost every document was called carta, charta, or chartula. In this 
sense the term is nearly synonymous with deed. Co. Litt. 6; 1 Co. 1; Moor. 
Cas. 687. 
     4. The act of the legislature creating a corporation, is called its 
charter. Vide 3 Bro. Civ. and Adm. Law, 188; Dane's Ab. h.t.