What key document outlines the rights and responsibilities of a corporation’s shareholders?

The correct choice is the company bylaws, as they serve as the foundational governing document for a corporation. Bylaws outline essential guidelines for operating the corporation and detail the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of its shareholders, directors, and officers. They establish the framework for corporate governance, including procedures for meetings, voting rights, and decision-making processes that affect shareholders, ensuring that all parties understand their roles and how the corporation functions.

The other choices do not fulfill the role of outlining shareholder rights and responsibilities. A partnership agreement applies specifically to partnerships, detailing the terms of the partnership and the roles of partners rather than shareholder dynamics in a corporation. An employment handbook is geared towards guiding employee relations, policies, and procedures rather than addressing the governance aspects related to shareholders. Corporate tax filings involve financial disclosures to tax authorities, which are important for compliance but do not provide a framework for shares or shareholder rights. Hence, the company bylaws are the definitive document that governs the relationship within a corporation, specifically concerning shareholders.