May also be referred to as the corporate charter. It's the legal instrument required by the state to incorporate an organization.

• A. Bylaws
• B. Articles of Incorporation
• C. Memorandum of Association
• D. Certificate of Formation

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is the formal document that creates a corporation by filing with the state and authorizes its existence. That document is the Articles of Incorporation, which is commonly known as the corporate charter. It’s the legal instrument the state requires to form a corporation and typically includes details like the company name, purpose, duration, registered agent, and share structure.

Bylaws, in contrast, are internal rules adopted after formation to govern how the corporation operates—board meetings, officer roles, and similar governance matters. A Memorandum of Association is a term used in some other countries for a foundational document, but in U.S. practice the equivalent concept is the Articles of Incorporation. A Certificate of Formation is generally used for forming LLCs, not corporations.