Why do some particles have electric charge while others do not?

In the Standard Model of particle physics, charge is not something particles acquire like a coating; it is an intrinsic property, like mass or spin. Electrons carry a negative charge, protons a positive charge, and neutrons are neutral overall. Charges come in equal and opposite types, which is why they can attract or cancel. The electromagnetic force acts on charged particles and is described by quantum electrodynamics, one of the most accurate theories in science. Even though charge is fundamental, why the universe has the particular pattern of charges it does is still an active area of research.