The internal audit charter establishes the constitutional foundation for the audit function, typically approved by the board or audit committee to ensure appropriate organizational standing. It defines the scope of audit activities, access rights to records and personnel, reporting relationships, and the Chief Audit Executive's accountability structure. The charter also affirms the function's independence from management and its adherence to professional standards such as the Institute of Internal Auditors' International Standards. A well-crafted charter explicitly grants unrestricted access to all organizational activities, records, and properties relevant to audit engagements, preventing scope limitations that could compromise audit effectiveness.