Part 1 Counties Generally 5-1-101 – 5-1-134
Part 2 Charter Form of Government 5-1-201 – 5-1-215
Part 3 County Officials Certificate Training Program Act 5-1-301 – 5-1-310

Terms Used In Tennessee Code > Title 5 > Chapter 1 - General Provisions

  • Acquire: means to purchase, lease, construct, reconstruct, replace, or acquire by gift. See Tennessee Code 7-52-102
  • Acquittal:
    1. Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
    2. A verdict of "not guilty."
     
  • Active plan: means a plan that is currently producing tax increment revenues. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • Affiliate: means a person who directly, or indirectly through one (1) or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Age of majority: means eighteen (18) years of age or older. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Agent: means any individual, other than a broker-dealer, who represents a broker-dealer in effecting or attempting to effect purchases or sales of securities from, in, or into this state. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Agriculture: means :
    (i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • 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.
  • Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
  • Authorized shares: means the shares of all classes a domestic or foreign corporation is authorized to issue. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Base taxes: means the property taxes, if any, that were levied by a taxing agency and payable with respect to the property within a plan area (other than any portion of such taxes that is a debt service amount) for the year prior to the date the plan was approved. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • 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
  • Bequest: Property gifted by will.
  • best interest of the state: means an extended plan term or term extension is reasonably required for plan completion. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • board of directors: means the governing board of a corporation, whether denominated the board of directors or otherwise, except that no person or group of persons is the board of directors because of powers delegated to that person or group pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • Bonds: means bonds or interim certificates issued pending preparation or delivery of definitive bonds of a local government issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Book-entry form: means , with respect to public obligations, obligations that are not represented by an instrument but are evidenced and transferred on registration books maintained for that purpose by or on behalf of the issuer. See Tennessee Code 9-19-102
  • Broker-dealer: means any person engaged in the business of effecting transactions in securities for the account of others, or any person engaged in the business of buying or selling securities issued by one (1) or more other persons for such person's own account and as part of a regular business rather than in connection with such person's investment activities. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Business: includes every trade, occupation, profession, investment activity and other lawful purpose for gain or the preservation of assets whether or not carried on for profits. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Bylaws: means the code or codes of rules (other than the charter) adopted pursuant to chapters 51-68 of this title for the regulation or management of the affairs of the corporation irrespective of the name or names by which such rules are designated. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • Certain unfunded other post-employment benefits: means nonpension benefits paid on behalf of former employees of any local government having a population in excess of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, or the former employees' beneficiaries after separation from service. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Certain unfunded pension obligations: means pension benefits for past service of employees of a local government whose employment results from the local government's assumption of governmental responsibilities of another local government. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Charter: includes amended and restated charters and articles of merger. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Class: when used with reference to membership interests, means a category of membership interests that differs in one (1) or more rights or preferences from another category of membership interests of the LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of economic and community development. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of commerce and insurance. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • 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.
  • Community redevelopment agency: means a community redevelopment agency created by or designated pursuant to the CRA Act. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Comptroller: means the comptroller of the treasury. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Confirmation of good standing: means confirmation by the commissioner of revenue issued through electronic communication to the secretary of state or a certificate of tax clearance that at the time such confirmation is issued an LLC or a foreign LLC is current on all taxes and penalties to the satisfaction of the commissioner. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Conspicuous: means so written that a reasonable person against whom the writing is to operate should have noticed it. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Construction: means building, reconstruction, erection, replacement, extension, repairing, betterment, equipment, development, embellishment, improvement, acquisition by gift, lease, purchase or the exercise of the right of eminent domain, or any one (1) or more or all of the foregoing, including the acquisition of land and of rights in land, and including acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of any corporation whose assets consist entirely of one (1) or more public works projects which together constitute a waterworks, sewer system, natural gas system, electric system, or any combination thereof, including, but not limited to, a water, sewer, natural gas and/or electric distribution system, or any combination thereof, serving a local government and assets related to the operation thereof and whose liabilities consist entirely of those related to the ownership and operation thereof. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • 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 executive: means and includes "county mayor" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • County mayor: means and includes "county executive" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Court: includes every court and judge having jurisdiction in the case. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Covered security: means a security that is, or upon completion of a transaction will be, a covered security under §. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • CRA Act: means the Community Redevelopment Act of 1998, as amended, being 1998 Public Chapter No. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Dealer: means every person engaged in the business of buying, selling or exchanging vehicles of a type required to be registered and who has an established place of business for that purpose in this state. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Dealer: means any person, partnership, or corporation who is engaged in, or who intends to engage in the business of selling motor vehicles at retail in this state. See Tennessee Code 55-13-101
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Dedicated taxes: means that portion of property taxes, if any, designated by a taxing agency to pay debt service on the taxing agency's debt. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • delivery: means any method of delivery used in conventional commercial practice, including delivery by hand, mail, commercial delivery, and, if authorized in accordance with §. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Department: means the department of commerce and insurance. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Designated adult: means :
    (A) An individual sixty-five (65) years of age or older. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Directors: means natural persons, designated in the charter or bylaws or elected or appointed by the incorporators, and their successors and natural persons elected or appointed to act as members of the board, irrespective of the names or titles by which such persons are described. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Dispose: means to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer any interest in property. See Tennessee Code 7-52-102
  • Dissolution: means that the LLC has incurred an event under §. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Distribution: means a direct or indirect transfer of money or other property (except its own membership interests) with or without consideration, or an incurrence or issuance of indebtedness, (whether directly or indirectly, including through a guaranty) by an LLC to or for the benefit of any of its members in respect of membership interests. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Document: means :
    (A) Any tangible medium on which information is inscribed, and includes any writing or written instrument. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • domestic corporation: means a corporation for profit, which is not a foreign corporation, incorporated under or subject to the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, compiled in chapters 11-27 of this title, as amended. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Electric plant: means generating, transmission, or distribution systems, together with all other facilities, equipment and appurtenances necessary or appropriate to any such systems for the furnishing of electric power and energy for lighting, heating, power or any other purpose for which electric power and energy can be used. See Tennessee Code 7-52-102
  • Electric service: means the furnishing of electric power and energy for lighting, heating, power or any other purpose for which electric power and energy can be used. See Tennessee Code 7-52-102
  • Electronic: means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Electronic record: means information that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in paper form through an automated process used in conventional commercial practice, unless otherwise authorized in accordance with §. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Employee: includes an officer but not a director. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Enterprise: means any one (1) of or combination of two (2) or more public works projects, undertakings or projects which the local government is or may hereafter be authorized to construct and from which the local government has heretofore derived or may hereafter derive revenues, and such enterprise includes all improvements, betterments, extensions and replacements thereto, and all appurtenances, facilities, lands, rights in land, water rights, franchises and structures in connection therewith or incidental thereto. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Entity: includes the following, whether foreign or domestic: LLCs. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • 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.
  • Executive authority: includes the governor, and any person performing the functions of governor in a state other than this state. See Tennessee Code 40-9-102
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Executor: includes an administrator, where the subject matter applies to an administrator. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Extradition: The formal process of delivering an accused or convicted person from authorities in one state to authorities in another state.
  • Facsimile seal: means the reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of the seal of the issuer, official or official body. See Tennessee Code 9-19-102
  • Facsimile seal: means the reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of the seal of the issuer, official or governing body. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Facsimile signature: means the reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of the manual signature of an authorized officer. See Tennessee Code 9-19-102
  • Facsimile signature: means the reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of the manual signature of an authorized officer of a local government. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • 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.
  • Federal agency: includes the United States, the president of the United States, or any agency, instrumentality or corporation of the United States, which has heretofore been or may hereafter be designated, created or authorized by or pursuant to any act or acts or joint resolutions of the congress of the United States, to make loans or grants, or which may be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the United States. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Federal aid act: means any act or acts or joint resolution of the congress of the United States to reduce and relieve unemployment, or to provide for the construction of public works, or to relieve and rehabilitate veterans of any war, or to subsidize or aid any local government, public works or construction project by grants of money, materials, equipment or otherwise by any federal agency. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Finance company or finance agency: means any person engaged in the business of financing the sale of motor vehicles, or engaged in the business of purchasing or acquiring promissory notes, either secured by vendor's lien or chattel mortgage, arising from the sale of motor vehicles in this state. See Tennessee Code 55-13-101
  • Financial exploitation: means :
    (A) The wrongful or unauthorized taking, withholding, appropriation, or use of money, assets, or property of a designated adult. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Financial intermediary: means a bank, broker, or clearing corporation or the nominee of any of them, or other person or nominee which in the ordinary course of its business maintains public obligation accounts for its customers, when so acting. See Tennessee Code 9-19-102
  • Financial newspaper: means a financial newspaper, financial journal or other financial publication. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Foreign corporation: means a corporation for profit incorporated under a law other than the laws of this state. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Foreign nonprofit corporation: means a corporation incorporated under a law other than the law of this state, which would be a nonprofit corporation if incorporated under the laws of this state. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Governing body: means the board or body in which the general legislative powers of a municipality or taxing agency are vested. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Governing body: means the body in which the general legislative powers of a public entity are vested. See Tennessee Code 9-24-102
  • Governing body: means the legislative body of any local government of this state or any other authority charged with the governing of the affairs of any local government in this state. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Governor: means a natural person or entity serving on the board of governors of a board-managed LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Governor: includes any person performing the functions of governor by authority of the law of this state. See Tennessee Code 40-9-102
  • 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.
  • Highway: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Housing authority: means a housing authority organized in accordance with title 13, chapter 20, or any public entity exercising the redevelopment powers of a housing authority pursuant to such chapter. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • 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.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Individual: includes the estate of an incompetent or deceased individual. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Industrial development corporation: means any industrial development corporation organized pursuant to title 7, chapter 53. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Institutional investor: means a bank (unless the bank is acting as a broker-dealer as such term is defined in §. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.
  • Interest: means either or both of the following rights under the organic law of an unincorporated entity:
    (A) The right to receive distributions from the entity either in the ordinary course or upon liquidation. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
  • Investment adviser: includes a financial planner or other person who, as an integral component of other financially related services, provides investment advice to others for compensation as part of a business or who holds oneself out as providing investment advice to others for compensation. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Investment adviser representative: means any partner, officer, or director of (or person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions) an investment adviser, or other individual, except clerical or ministerial personnel, who is employed by or associated with an investment adviser and does any of the following:
    (i) Makes any recommendation or otherwise renders advice regarding securities. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Investment-related: means any activities connected to any of the following business areas:
    (A) Securities. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Issuer: means any entity, department, or agency which under the laws of this state issues public obligations. See Tennessee Code 9-19-102
  • Issuer: means every person who issues any security, except that:
    (i) With respect to certificates of deposit, voting-trust certificates, collateral-trust certificates, certificates of interest or shares in an unincorporated investment trust which is of the fixed, restricted management or unit type or which does not have either a board of directors or persons performing similar functions, "issuer" means the person or persons performing the acts and assuming the duties of depositor or manager pursuant to the trust or other agreement under which such securities are issued. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
  • 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.
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Lands: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Law: means any act or statute, general, special or local, of the state of Tennessee, including, but not limited to, the charter of any municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-52-102
  • Law: means any act or statute, general, special or local, of this state, including, but not limited to, any local government charter. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Lease: means an agreement for the use of property under which a public entity is the lessee. See Tennessee Code 9-24-102
  • Lease financing: means any lease under which:
    (A) The rental payments payable thereunder by the public entity include an identifiable interest component. See Tennessee Code 9-24-102
  • 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.
  • Local government: means any county, municipality or metropolitan government in this state. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Local government instrumentality: means any authority created by law on behalf of a county, metropolitan government, municipality or any combination thereof. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Mandated project: means a public works project that a local government is required by a court order or other governmental mandate to construct as determined by the local government with the approval of the comptroller of the treasury or the comptroller's designee. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Manufacturer: means any person who is engaged, either directly or indirectly, in the manufacture of motor vehicles. See Tennessee Code 55-13-101
  • Metropolitan government: means the political entity created by consolidation of all, or substantially all, of the political and corporate functions of a county and a city or cities pursuant to the authority of title 7, chapters 1-3. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Minor: means any person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Month: means the time from any day of any month to the corresponding day of the succeeding month, if any, and if none, the last day of the succeeding month. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Month: means a calendar month. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Municipality: means any county, metropolitan government, incorporated city or town in the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 7-52-102
  • Municipality: means any county, metropolitan government or incorporated city or town in this state. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Municipality: means any incorporated city or any incorporated town of this state. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Non-appropriation clause: means a provision in a lease financing that, in effect, allows a governing body to terminate a lease financing by not appropriating funds to make payments under the lease financing in any fiscal year. See Tennessee Code 9-24-102
  • Notes: means notes or interim certificates issued pending preparation or delivery of definitive notes of a local government issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Oath: includes affirmation. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • 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 and any other evidence of indebtedness lawfully issued or assumed by a local government. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Official actions: means the actions by statute, order, ordinance, charter, resolution, contract, or other authorized means by which the issuer provides for issuance of a public obligation. See Tennessee Code 9-19-102
  • official body: means the officer or board that is empowered under the laws of this state to provide for original issuance of a public obligation of the issuer, by defining the obligation and its terms, conditions and other incidents, the successor or successors of any such official or official body, and such other person or group of persons as shall be assigned duties of such official or official body under applicable law from time to time. See Tennessee Code 9-19-102
  • Organic document: means a public organic document or a private organic document. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Organic law: means the statute governing the internal affairs of a domestic or foreign business or nonprofit corporation or unincorporated entity. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • 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.
  • Period: as used in this part and parts 5-8 of this chapter, includes in each instance any number of portions of time not exceeding in the aggregate the length of time included in such period. See Tennessee Code 9-21-405
  • Person: means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, or an engaged ADS. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Person: means a natural person, a sole proprietorship, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a limited liability company, a joint-stock company, a trust, a governmental entity or agency, or any other unincorporated organization. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Person: includes individual and entity. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Personal representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Persons: means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trustee, receiver or assignee for the benefit of creditors. See Tennessee Code 55-13-101
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plan: means a redevelopment plan approved pursuant to title 13, chapter 20, an economic impact plan approved pursuant to title 7, chapter 53, or a community redevelopment plan approved pursuant to the CRA Act. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Plan area: means the area identified in any plan as being subject to such plan. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
  • Preliminary hearing: A hearing where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to make the defendant have a trial.
  • 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.
  • Principal office: means the office (in or out of this state) so designated in the annual report where the principal executive offices of a domestic or foreign corporation are located. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Private organic document: means any document (other than the public organic document, if any) that determines the internal governance of an unincorporated entity. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probate court: means the court having jurisdiction over the administration of the estates of decedents. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Proceeding: includes civil suit and criminal, administrative, and investigatory action. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Public infrastructure: shall mean roads, streets, publicly-owned or privately-owned parking lots, facilities or garages, traffic signals, sidewalks or other public improvements that are available for public use, utility improvements and storm water and drainage improvements, whether or not located on public property or a publicly-dedicated easement, that are necessary or desirable, as determined by the tax increment agency. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • Public obligation: means an agreement of an issuer to pay principal and any interest thereon, whether in the form of a contract to repay borrowed money, a lease, an installment purchase agreement, or otherwise, and includes a share, participation, or other interest in any such agreement. See Tennessee Code 9-19-102
  • Public organic document: means the document, if any, that is filed of public record to create an unincorporated entity. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Public works project: includes any one (1) or any combination of the following: acquisitions of land for the purpose of providing or preserving open land. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • purchase: include exchange, barter, gift, and offer to contract to sell or buy. See Tennessee Code 55-13-101
  • Qualified individual: means any agent, investment adviser representative, or person who serves in a supervisory, compliance, or legal capacity for a broker-dealer or investment adviser. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • 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.
  • real property: include lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Record date: means the date established under chapter 16 or 17 on which a corporation determines the identity of its shareholders for purposes of chapters 11-27 of this title. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • 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
  • Refinancing: means funding, refunding, paying, or discharging, by means of refunding bonds or the proceeds received from the sale thereof, all or any part of any bonds, notes, or other obligations heretofore or hereafter issued or lawfully assumed and payable solely from all or any part of the revenues of one (1) or more enterprises, or from a combination of such revenues and taxes, except notes issued in anticipation of bonds. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Refunding bonds: means bonds issued to refund all or any part of bonds, notes or other obligations, except notes issued in anticipation of bonds, heretofore or hereafter issued or lawfully assumed by a local government pursuant to this chapter, or any other provision of this code or any other general or special law. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Registered office: means the place in this state designated in the articles as the registered office of the LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • Representative: means a governor, manager, employee or other agent of a foreign LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Revenues: means all fees, rents, tolls, rates, rentals, interest earnings, or other charges received or receivable by the local government from any public works project or enterprise then existing or thereafter to be constructed, including any revenues derived or to be derived by a local government from a lease, agreement or contract with any other local government, local government instrumentality, the state, or a state or federal agency for the use of or in connection with a public works project or enterprise, or all other charges to be levied and collected in connection with and all other income and receipts of whatever kind or character derived by the local government from the operation of any public works project or enterprise or arising from any public works project or enterprise. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Road: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Secretary: means the corporate officer to whom the bylaws or the board of directors has delegated responsibility under §. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Secretary of state: means the person who holds the office of secretary of state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Security: means any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, a life settlement investment or any fractional or pooled interest in a life insurance policy or life settlement investment, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, certificate of interest or participation in an oil, gas, or mining title or lease or in payments out of production under such a title or lease. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • sell: includes every contract of sale of, contract to sell, or disposition of, a security or interest in a security for value. See Tennessee Code 48-1-102
  • Series: means a category of membership interests, within a class of membership interests, that have some of the same rights and preferences as other membership interests within the same class, but that differ in one (1) or more rights and preferences from another category of membership interests within that class. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • 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.
  • sex: means a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth and evidence of a person's biological sex. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Share: means the unit into which the proprietary interests in a corporation are divided. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Shareholder: means the person in whose name shares are registered in the records of a corporation or the beneficial owner of shares to the extent of the rights granted by a nominee certificate on file with a corporation. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • signature: means , with present intent to authenticate or adopt a document:
    (A) To execute or adopt a tangible symbol to a document, and includes any manual, facsimile, or conformed signature. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • State: means the state of Tennessee and any agency, authority, branch, bureau, commission, corporation, department, or instrumentality of the state. See Tennessee Code 9-24-102
  • State: means the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • State agency: means any agency of the state created by the general assembly. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • 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.
  • Subscriber: means a person who subscribes for shares in a corporation, whether before or after incorporation. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Subscription: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Tax clearance for termination or withdrawal: means confirmation by the commissioner of revenue issued through electronic communication to the secretary of state or a certificate of tax clearance that an LLC or a foreign LLC has filed all applicable reports, including, but not limited to, a final report, and has paid all fees, penalties and taxes as required by the revenue laws of this state. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Tax increment agency: means a housing authority, industrial development corporation and/or community redevelopment agency. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Tax increment revenues: means incremental property tax revenues to be allocated by a taxing agency to a tax increment agency pursuant to a tax increment statute and this chapter. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Tax increment statutes: means title 7, chapter 53, title 13, chapter 20 and the CRA Act. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Taxable property: means all property subject to ad valorem taxation within the local government, or any portion of the local government, if applicable. See Tennessee Code 9-21-105
  • Taxing agency: means any county, city, town, metropolitan government or other public entity that levies property taxes on property within a plan area and that has approved the plan. See Tennessee Code 9-23-102
  • Termination: means the end of an LLC's existence as a legal entity and occurs when the articles of termination are filed with the secretary of state under §. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Testator: A male person who leaves a will at death.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • 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.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Unincorporated entity: means an organization or artificial legal person that either has a separate legal existence or has the power to acquire an estate in real property in its own name and that is not any of the following: a domestic or foreign business or nonprofit corporation, an estate, a trust, a state, the United States, or a foreign government. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • United States: includes district, authority, bureau, commission, department, and any other agency of the United States. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • 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.
  • Voting group: means all shares of one (1) or more classes or series that under the charter or chapters 11-27 of this title are entitled to vote and be counted together collectively on a matter at a meeting of shareholders. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Wholesale distributor: means any person engaged, directly or indirectly, in the sale or distribution of motor vehicles to agents or to dealers. See Tennessee Code 55-13-101
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • Writ of certiorari: An order issued by the Supreme Court directing the lower court to transmit records for a case for which it will hear on appeal.
  • written: means any information in the form of a document. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201