The Expansionary Fleet's charter, alternatively referred to as the charter of the Expansionary Defense Fleet by Force Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo, was a set of guidelines that governed the Chiss Expansionary Fleet. The charter only permitted observation and exploration in the regions around the Chiss Ascendancy.
Following the destruction of Special Task Force One of the Trade Federation, Syndic Mitth'ras'safis, core name "Thrass," of the Eighth Ruling Family arranged a meeting between Corellian smuggler Jorj Car'das and Admiral Ar'alani of the Chiss Defense Fleet at her quarters in the upper level of the Crustai asteroid base, where Car'das tried to stall Ar'alani by stating that Thrawn acted within the scope of the Expansionary Fleet's charter and fought only in self-defense. While Thrass recited the charter, Ar'alani countered that Thrawn violated the defensive-only doctrine.