stadga

Stadga is a formal document that sets out the rules governing an organization, foundation, or, in some contexts, a municipality. In Nordic languages such as Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian, stadga (plural stadgar) is commonly translated as charter, statute, or bylaws, depending on context. The core idea is to establish the entity’s purpose, how it is governed, and how decisions are made and audited.

A stadga typically contains articles that define the organization’s name, purpose or mission, membership criteria, rights and duties of members, governance structure (such as boards and officers), meeting procedures, voting rules, financial management, and rules for amending the document. For municipalities or city charters, stadga may spell out territorial limits, public responsibilities, and the powers delegated by higher authorities; for associations and foundations, it usually governs internal operations and external relations.

Stadga is often a foundational document created by founders or a founding assembly and may require approval by authorities to take legal effect, especially for organizations with legal status or tax considerations. Amendments typically require a formal vote and, in some contexts, registration with a government agency. The stadga thus functions as the legal framework within which the entity operates and interacts with others.

Because stadga can refer to different kinds of legal instruments depending on jurisdiction and domain, translations vary: bylaw, charter, statute. The precise meaning depends on context, such as whether the document governs an association, a foundation, a religious body, or a municipality.