Terms Used In Oregon Statutes > Chapter 260 > Election Offenses > Particular Offenses

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
• City: includes any incorporated village or town. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Condemner: means the state, any city, county, school district, municipal or public corporation, political subdivision or any instrumentality or any agency thereof or a private corporation that has the power to exercise the right of eminent domain. See Oregon Statutes 35.215
• 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 clerk: means the county clerk or the county official in charge of elections. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• 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.
• Elector: means an individual qualified to vote under Article II, section 2, of the Oregon Constitution. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
• 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}
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• expenditure: includes the payment or furnishing of money or anything of value or the incurring or repayment of indebtedness or obligation by or on behalf of a candidate, political committee or person in consideration for any services, supplies, equipment or other thing of value performed or furnished for any reason, including support of or opposition to a candidate, political committee or measure, or for reducing the debt of a candidate for nomination or election to public office. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
• Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. ^{Source: OCC}
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• 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.
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• 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.
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• local government: means all cities, counties and local service districts located in this state, and all administrative subdivisions of those cities, counties and local service districts. See Oregon Statutes 174.116
• Measure: includes any of the following submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at an election:

  (a) A proposed law. See Oregon Statutes 260.005

• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Oral argument: An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.
• owner of the property: means the owner of property. See Oregon Statutes 35.215
• Person: means person as defined by ORS § 174. See Oregon Statutes 35.215
• Person: means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, labor organization, association, firm, partnership, joint stock company, club, organization or other combination of individuals having collective capacity. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
• person with a disability: means any person who:

  (a) Has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities;

  (b) Has a record of such an impairment; or

  (c) Is regarded as having such an impairment. See Oregon Statutes 174.107

• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• Petition committee: means an initiative, referendum or recall petition committee organized under ORS § 260. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• 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.
• Political committee: means a combination of two or more individuals, or a person other than an individual, that has:

  (a) Received a contribution for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate, measure or political party; or

  (b) Made an expenditure for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate, measure or political party. See Oregon Statutes 260.005

• Private condemner: means a private corporation that has the power to exercise the right of eminent domain. See Oregon Statutes 35.215
• Property: means real or personal property or any interest therein of any kind or nature that is subject to condemnation. See Oregon Statutes 35.215
• public body: means state government bodies, local government bodies and special government bodies. See Oregon Statutes 174.109
• Public condemner: means condemner other than private condemner. See Oregon Statutes 35.215
• Public office: means any national, state, county, district, city office or position, except a political party office, that is filled by the electors. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Recall petition: means a petition to recall a public officer for which a prospective petition has been filed but that is not yet a measure. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
• Referendum petition: means a petition to refer a measure for which a prospective petition has been filed but that is not yet a measure. See Oregon Statutes 260.005
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• state government: means the executive department, the judicial department and the legislative department. See Oregon Statutes 174.111
• State Treasury: includes those financial assets the lawful custody of which are vested in the State Treasurer and the office of the State Treasurer relating to the custody of those financial assets. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.