PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Practice Question
A project manager is preparing the project charter for a new initiative. The sponsor asks which element must be included in the charter to authorize the project. What should the project manager include?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse high-level charter content with detailed planning documents that are produced after the charter is approved.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The project manager's assigned level of authority.
The project charter is the document that formally authorizes the project and gives the project manager authority to apply organizational resources. It includes the project purpose, measurable objectives, high-level requirements, and the project manager's assigned authority. Detailed planning artifacts such as the WBS, risk register, and CCB roster are created later, not inside the charter.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The approved change control board (CCB) membership list.
Why it's wrong here
CCB membership is established later during planning as part of the change management approach, not in the charter. The charter is a high-level authorization document, and listing individual CCB members would add planning-level detail before scope and governance structures are defined. It is therefore not a required charter element.
- ✓
The project manager's assigned level of authority.
Why this is correct
The charter formally authorizes the project and names the project manager, specifying the level of authority to apply resources to project activities. Without documented authority, the project manager cannot commit organizational resources effectively. This element is essential for the project manager to lead and make decisions on behalf of the sponsor.
- ✗
The detailed work breakdown structure (WBS).
Why it's wrong here
The WBS is created during planning, after the charter is approved, and it decomposes deliverables into work packages. Including it in the charter would be premature because scope details are not yet defined. The charter authorizes the project at a high level, while the WBS belongs to the planning phase.
- ✗
The detailed risk register with response strategies.
Why it's wrong here
The risk register is developed during planning after risks are identified and analyzed, so it cannot exist when the charter is being prepared. The charter may mention high-level risks, but a detailed register with response strategies is a planning artifact. Including it would confuse the charter's authorization purpose.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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