Charter

is a grant made by the sovereign either to the whole people or to a portion of: securing to them the enjoyment of certain rights. Of the former kind is the present charter of France, which extends 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. § 161; 1 Bl. Com. 108; Encycl. Amer.

Charte Constitutionelle

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. This term is susceptible of another signification. During the middle ages almost every document was called carta, charta, or chartula. Inthissense the term is nearly synonymous with deed.

Co. Litt. 6; 1 Co. 1; Moor. Cas. 687. Vide 2 Bro. Civ. and Adm. Law, 188; Dane’s Ab. h. t.