Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes > Chapter 50 > General Provisions

• Acquittal:
  1. Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
  2. A verdict of "not guilty."
   
• Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
• Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
• Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Assignment agreement: means an agreement between a transferring unit and an issuing entity for the conveyance of all or part of any revenues or taxes received by the transferring unit from a State entity. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Authority: means the Waukegan Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/270-5
• Authority: means the West Frankfort Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/275-5
• Authority: means the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/280-5
• Authority: means the Bowdre Township Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/30-5
• Authority: means the Brownstown Park District Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/35-5
• Authority: means the Carbondale Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/40-5
• Authority: means the Aledo Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/5-5
• Authority: means the Centre East Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/50-5
• Authority: means the Chicago South Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/55-5
• Authority: means the Collinsville Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/60-5
• Authority: means the "(Name of Financially Distressed City) Financial Advisory Authority". See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
• Authority: means the Crystal Lake Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/70-5
• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
• Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. ^{Source: OCC}
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Waukegan Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/270-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the West Frankfort Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/275-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/280-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Bowdre Township Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/30-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Brownstown Park District Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/35-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Carbondale Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/40-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Aledo Community Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/5-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Centre East Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/50-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Chicago South Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/55-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Collinsville Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/60-5
• Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Crystal Lake Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/70-5
• Budget: means an annual appropriation ordinance or annual budget as described in Division 2 of Article 8, as from time to time in effect in the financially distressed city. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
• Chairperson: means the chairperson of the Authority appointed pursuant to Section 8-12-7. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
• Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
• Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
• Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
• Combined waterworks and sewerage system: means and includes a waterworks and sewerage system, which the municipality determines by ordinance to operate in combination. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-139-1
• Committee membership: Legislators are assigned to specific committees by their party. Seniority, regional balance, and political philosophy are the most prominent factors in the committee assignment process.
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• Conveyance: means an assignment, sale, transfer, or other conveyance. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• County board: means the board of county commissioners in counties not under township organization, and the board of supervisors in counties under township organization, and the board of commissioners of Cook County. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.07
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• decree: is synonymous with the word "judgment". See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.24
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Deposit account: means a designated escrow account established by an issuing entity at a trust company or bank having trust powers for the deposit of transferred receipts under an assignment agreement. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
• Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
• Devise: To gift property by will.
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Donor: The person who makes a gift.
• Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• Extradition: The formal process of delivering an accused or convicted person from authorities in one state to authorities in another state.
• Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
• Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Financial Plan: means the financially distressed city's financial plan as developed pursuant to Section 8-12-15, as from time to time in effect. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
• Financially distressed city: means any municipality which is a home rule unit and which (i) is certified by the Department of Revenue as being in the highest 5% of all home rule municipalities in terms of the aggregate of the rate per cent of all taxes levied pursuant to statute or ordinance upon all taxable property of the municipality and as being in the lowest 5% of all home rule municipalities in terms of per capita tax yield, and (ii) is designated by joint resolution of the General Assembly as a financially distressed city. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
• Fiscal year: means the fiscal year of the financially distressed city. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
• Fixed Rate: Having a "fixed" rate means that the APR doesn't change based on fluctuations of some external rate (such as the "Prime Rate"). In other words, a fixed rate is a rate that is not a variable rate. A fixed APR can change over time, in several circumstances:
  • You are late making a payment or commit some other default, triggering an increase to a penalty rate
  • The bank changes the terms of your account and you do not reject the change.
  • The rate expires (if the rate was fixed for only a certain period of time).
• Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Freedom of Information Act: A federal law that mandates that all the records created and kept by federal agencies in the executive branch of government must be open for public inspection and copying. The only exceptions are those records that fall into one of nine exempted categories listed in the statute. ^{Source: OCC}
• General Revenue Law of Illinois: or any equivalent expression, when used with reference to revenue, shall be deemed to refer to the Property Tax Code and all existing and future amendments thereto and modifications thereof, and all rules now or hereafter adopted pursuant thereto. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.23
• Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
• Governor: means the Governor of the State of Illinois. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/280-5
• Grace period: The number of days you'll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. ^{Source: Federal Reserve}
• Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
• Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
• Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
• Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
• Heretofore: means any time previous to the day on which the statute takes effect; and the word "hereafter" at any time after such day. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.17
• Home rule municipality: means a municipality which is a home rule unit as provided in Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
• Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
• Issuing entity: means (i) a corporation, trust or other entity that has been established for the limited purpose of issuing obligations for the benefit of a transferring unit, or (ii) a bank or trust company in its capacity as trustee for obligations issued by such bank or trust company for the benefit of a transferring unit. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
• Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
• Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
• Judgement: The official decision of a court finally determining the respective rights and claims of the parties to a suit.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Law clerk: Assist judges with research and drafting of opinions.
• Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Markup: The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation.
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Waukegan. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/270-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of West Frankfort. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/275-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the County of Will. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/280-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory which lies within the corporate boundaries of the Township of Bowdre, in the County of Douglas. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/30-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the Brownstown Park District in the County of Fayette. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/35-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Carbondale. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/40-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of Mercer Township in the County of Mercer. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/5-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of Niles Township or any municipality a part of which lies within Niles Township. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/50-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Harvey and the Villages of Flossmoor, Lansing, South Holland, Homewood, East Hazel Crest, and Glenwood, together with the territory within the boundaries of other Illinois municipalities that become part of the metropolitan area as provided in Section 55-15. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/55-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Collinsville. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/60-5
• Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the municipality of Crystal Lake in the County of McHenry. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/70-5
• Minority leader: See Floor Leaders
• Month: means a calendar month, and the word "year" a calendar year unless otherwise expressed; and the word "year" alone, is equivalent to the expression "year of our Lord. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.10
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
• Mortgagor: The person who pledges property to a creditor as collateral for a loan and who receives the money.
• National Bank: A bank that is subject to the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. A national bank can be recognized because it must have "national" or "national association" in its name. ^{Source: OCC}
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• oath: shall be deemed to include an affirmation, and the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.12
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• Obligations: means bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued by the Illinois Finance Authority in connection with the provision of financial aid to a financially distressed city pursuant to this Division and applicable provisions of the Illinois Finance Authority Act. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
• Person under legal disability: means a person 18 years or older who (a) because of mental deterioration or physical incapacity is not fully able to manage his or her person or estate, or (b) is a person with mental illness or is a person with developmental disabilities and who because of his or her mental illness or developmental disability is not fully able to manage his or her person or estate, or (c) because of gambling, idleness, debauchery or excessive use of intoxicants or drugs, so spends or wastes his or her estate as to expose himself or herself or his or her family to want or suffering. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.06
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• Petty offense: A federal misdemeanor punishable by six months or less in prison. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• police force: shall be construed to include such persons in the employ of a municipality as members of the department of police, who are or shall hereafter be appointed and sworn as policemen. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.20
• policemen: as used in this Division does not include auxiliary police officers except as provided for in Section 10-2. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-4
• Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. ^{Source: OCC}
• Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Probate: Proving a will
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
• Recourse: An arrangement in which a bank retains, in form or in substance, any credit risk directly or indirectly associated with an asset it has sold (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) that exceeds a pro rata share of the bank's claim on the asset. If a bank has no claim on an asset it has sold, then the retention of any credit risk is recourse. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• Sewerage system: means and includes any or all of the following: a sewerage treatment plant or plants, collecting, intercepting and outlet sewers, lateral sewers, and drains, including combined and separate storm water and sanitary drains, force mains, conduits, pumping stations, ejector stations and all other appurtenances, extensions and improvements necessary, useful, or convenient for the collection, treatment, and disposal in a sanitary manner of sewage and industrial wastes. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-139-1
• State entity: means the State Comptroller, the State Treasurer, or the Illinois Department of Revenue. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Surviving spouse: means "widow" or "widower" as the case may be. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.32
• sworn: shall be construed to include the word "affirmed. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.12
• Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
• Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
• Transferring unit: means a home rule municipality located in the State. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. ^{Source: OCC}
• United States: may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14
• Units of local government: has the meaning established in Section 1 of Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.28
• Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
• User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• Veto: The procedure established under the Constitution by which the President/Governor refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President/Governor returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The President/Governor usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. In Congress, the veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.
• waterworks: means and includes a waterworks system in its entirety or any integral part thereof, including mains, hydrants, meters, values, standpipes, storage tanks, pump tanks, intakes, wells, impounding reservoirs, pumps, machinery, purification plants, softening apparatus, and all other elements, useful in connection with a water supply or water distribution system. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-139-1
• Wills: includes codicils. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.13