Articles of Incorporation*
A document filed with a state of the United States by the founders of a corporation. Upon approval of the articles, the state issues a Certificate of Incorporation that legally establishes the corporation as a business entity. The two documents together (Articles of Incorporation and Certificate of Incorporation) are sometimes called the Charter of the corporation, embodying such information as the corporation’s name, officers’ names, the incorporator, purpose, amount of authorized shares, number of directors and place of business. The charter and the laws of the state give rise to the powers of the corporation. This is a legal document establishing the corporation, its structure, and purpose.