This paper reports an investigation of the spectrum and term system of Li-like carbon, e IV. Between 200 and 7750Å a total of 105 C IV lines have been identified by combining previously known data with new spectra recorded by the beam-foil technique and from observations at the JET tokamak, where pollutions of the charge exchange spectras is an incentive for this C IV investigation. A comprehensive term system, with accurate energies for all levels up to n = 12, is constructed from the identified transitions. Semi-empirical series formulae are also given, allowing reliable extrapolations to still higher n values. The ionization energy is determined to (520176.1 ± 1.5) cm-1.