  Suppose $G$ is a simple graph with $n$ vertices, $m$ edges, and rank $r$. Let
$\chi_G(t)=a_0t^n-a_1t^{n-1}+\cdots +(-1)^ra_rt^{n-r}$ be the chromatic
polynomial of $G$. For $q,k\in \Bbb{Z}$ and $0\le k\le q+r+1$, we obtain a
sharp two-side bound for the partial binomial sum of the coefficient sequence,
that is, \[ {r+q\choose k}\le \sum_{i=0}^{k}{q\choose k-i}a_{i}\le {m+q\choose
k}. \] Indeed, this bound holds for the characteristic polynomial of hyperplane
arrangements and matroids, and its weak version can be generalized to the
characteristic polynomial of toric arrangements and arithmetic matroids. We
also propose a problem on the geometric interpretation of the above bound.
