Number: RS22230
Title: Congressional or Federal Charters: Overview and Current Issues
Authors: Kevin R. Kosar, Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: A congressional or federal charter is a federal statute that establishes a corporation. Congress has issued charters since 1791, although most charters were issued after the start of the 20th century. Congress has used charters to create a variety of corporate entities, such as banks, government-sponsored enterprises, commercial corporations, venture capital funds, and more. Congressionally chartered corporations have raised diverse issues for Congress, including (1) Title 36 corporations' membership practices; (2) confusion over which corporations are governmental and which are private; and (3) federal management of these corporations.
Pages: 6
Date: June 16, 2008