To create a business as a Corporation, the State business authority (often called the Department of State) usually requires certain paperwork to get legal recognition as a registered entity. Usually this is called the articles of incorporation, but some states may refer to it as the "Corporate Charter", or the entire process as the "Certificate of Incorporation" because of the approval document the state may issue once it approves of the entity.
When the term "formation" is used, it is referring to an LLC. When the term "incorporation" is used, it's referring to a corporation, regardless of whether the word "articles" or "certificate" is in front of it.
The articles of incorporation to be analyzed are a binding legal document created and agreed upon by the original shareholders. It proves the existence and registration of the corporation.
The document will typically contain some combination of the following information:
* Name of the business
* Effective date of incorporation
* Duration for which the corporation will exist
* Statement of purpose
* Name and address of the registered agent
* Address of the principal place of business
* Outline of the Management structure
* Roles of the members, officers, and managers
* Names, titles, and signatures of the organizer(s)