Part 1 Emergency Government Relocation 7-51-101 – 7-51-103
Part 2 Employee Compensation and Indemnification 7-51-201 – 7-51-210
Part 3 Minimum Compensation for Local Officials 7-51-301 – 7-51-302
Part 4 Utility Service Extension, Collection Agreements 7-51-401 – 7-51-402
Part 5 Appropriations to Safety Councils 7-51-501
Part 6 7-51-601 – 7-51-605
Part 7 Motor Vehicles-Junkyards, Fees 7-51-701 – 7-51-703
Part 8 Ordinances Affecting Railroad Operations 7-51-801 – 7-51-804
Part 9 Contracts, Leases and Lease-Purchase Agreements 7-51-901 – 7-51-911
Part 10 Tennessee Passenger Transportation Services Act 7-51-1001 – 7-51-1007
Part 11 Adult-Oriented Establishment Registration Act of 1998 7-51-1101 – 7-51-1122
Part 12 Demolition of Historic Structures 7-51-1201 – 7-51-1204
Part 13 Civil Service Notice 7-51-1301
Part 14 Adult-Oriented Establishments 7-51-NEW – 7-51-1407
Part 15 Employees’ Political Freedoms 7-51-1501 – 7-51-1503
Part 16 Natural Disaster Relief 7-51-1601
Part 17 Leave Policy for Arrested Employees 7-51-1701
Part 18 Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce Act 7-51-1801 – 7-51-1802
Part 19 Grants for Development of Blighted Properties 7-51-1901 – 7-51-1903
Part 20 Auxiliary Containers 7-51-2001 – 7-51-2002
Part 21 Prohibiting the Connection or Reconnection of a Utility Service 7-51-2101 – 7-51-2103
Part 22 [As Added By2022Tenn. Acts, Ch.1100] 7-51-2201 – 7-51-2203
Part 23 Utility 7-51-2301 – 7-51-2305
Part 24 Clean Energy 7-51-2401 – 7-51-2405

Terms Used In Tennessee Code > Title 7 > Local Government Functions > Chapter 51 - Miscellaneous Governmental and Proprietary Functions

  • Absorptive capacity: is a determination made by a local government evaluating, for a host community within that jurisdiction:
    (A) The capacity of the community's social service and healthcare agencies to meet the existing needs of the community's current residents. See Tennessee Code 4-38-102
  • Adult: means a person who has attained eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Adult bookstore: means a business that offers, as its principal or predominate stock or trade, sexually oriented material, devices, or paraphernalia, whether determined by the total number of sexually oriented materials, devices or paraphernalia offered for sale or by the retail value of such materials, devices or paraphernalia, specified sexual activities, or any combination or form thereof, whether printed, filmed, recorded or live, and that restricts or purports to restrict admission to adults or to any class of adults. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult cabaret: includes a commercial establishment that features entertainment of an erotic nature, including exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators, or similar entertainers. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult cabaret: means a cabaret that features topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators, or similar entertainers. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Adult entertainment: means any exhibition of any adult-oriented motion picture, live performance, display or dance of any type, that has as a principal or predominant theme, emphasis, or portion of such performance, any actual or simulated performance of specified sexual activities or exhibition and viewing of specified anatomical areas, removal of articles of clothing or appearing unclothed, pantomime, modeling, or any other personal service offered customers. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult motion picture theater: means an enclosed building with a capacity of fifty (50) or more persons regularly used for presenting material having as a dominant theme or presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas as defined in this section, for observation by patrons in the building. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult-oriented establishment: includes , but is not limited to, an adult bookstore, adult motion picture theater, adult mini-motion picture establishment, adult cabaret, escort agency, sexual encounter center, massage parlor, rap parlor, sauna. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult-oriented establishment: includes , but is not limited to:
    (A) "Adult book stores" means any corporation, partnership or business of any kind that has as its principal or predominant stock or trade, books, magazines or other periodicals and that offers, sells, provides or rents for a fee:
    (i) Is available for viewing by patrons on the premises by means of the operation of movie machines or slide projectors. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Any law to the contrary: includes , but is not limited to, any conflicting provision of any general statute, local law, private act, charter provision, municipal law or municipal ordinance. See Tennessee Code 16-18-301
  • 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
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Articles of conversion: means the form of articles provided for in chapter 204 of this title creating a new LLC and evidencing the conversion of an existing partnership or corporation to the new LLC which shall have all of the assets and liabilities of the former partnership. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • articles of organization: means , in the case of an LLC, articles of organization or, to the extent applicable with respect to an LLC initially formed under and governed by the Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act, compiled in chapters 201-248 of this title, articles of conversion, taken together with all of the following, to the extent they modify, correct, restate or otherwise affect the articles of organization or articles of conversion: articles of amendment, articles of correction, certificates of merger and all documents required to be filed with any of the articles of amendment, articles of correction and certificates of merger, as part of the formation and continuation of an LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Auxiliary container: means a bag, cup, bottle, can, device, eating or drinking utensil or tool, or other packaging, whether reusable or single use, which is:
    (A) Made of cloth, paper, plastic, including foamed or expanded plastic, cardboard, corrugated material, aluminum, glass, post-consumer recycled material, or similar material or substrates, including coated, laminated, or multilayer substrates. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2001
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Bequest: Property gifted by will.
  • Bestiality: means sexual activity, actual or simulated, between a human being and an animal. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Blighted: has the meaning ascribed to that term in title 13, chapters 20 and 21. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1902
  • Board: means the state board for licensing contractors, created by §. See Tennessee Code 4-41-102
  • Board: means the adult-oriented establishment board, or, if there is in existence in the county a massage registration board appointed by the county mayor, such board may be substituted for the board. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • 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
  • Board-managed: means an LLC organized pursuant to this title that elected pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Borrower: means a natural person obligated to pay a home loan, including a co-borrower. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Business: means every trade, occupation, profession, investment activity, and other lawful purpose for gain or the preservation of assets, whether or not carried on for profit. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • 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
  • buyer: means a person who buys goods or obtains services from a retail seller in a retail installment transaction and not principally for the purpose of resale. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • Capital improvement property: means any real or tangible property needed for a governmental purpose and having a useful life of one (1) year or more, and any real or tangible personal property with respect to which capital outlay notes can be legally authorized and issued by a municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • Cash sale price: means the price for which the seller would have sold or furnished to the buyer, and the buyer would have bought or obtained from the seller, the goods or services which are the subject matter of the retail installment transaction, if such sale had been a sale for cash. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • 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
  • Clean energy: means energy that is derived from a source known to produce significantly lower carbon emissions than traditional fossil fuels. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2401
  • Code: includes the Tennessee Code and all amendments and revisions to the code and all additions and supplements to the code. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Code: means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Commission: means the Tennessee commission for the United States semiquincentennial commission. See Tennessee Code 4-44-102
  • Commission: means the state procurement commission, which replaces the board of standards within former title 12, chapter 3, part 4. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of commerce and insurance. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Committee: means the state protest committee, which replaces the board of standards protest authority within former §. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • 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.
  • contract: means an instrument or instruments evidencing one (1) or more retail installment transactions entered into in this state pursuant to which a buyer promises to pay in installments for goods or services. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Contracting party: means any party to a contract, lease or lease-purchase agreement other than a municipality, and can include individuals, corporations, partnerships, other government agencies, and other business entities. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • 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.
  • Corporation: means a nonprofit corporation, which shall be properly incorporated under the laws of this state and approved by the United States internal revenue service as an organization that is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U. See Tennessee Code 4-41-102
  • Council: means the advisory council on state procurement. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
  • County: as used in this part , means either a Class A county or a Class B county as classified in §. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • County governing body: means that body in a particular county that is vested with the power to levy property taxes. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • 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
  • Crypt: means a chamber of sufficient size to inter the remains of a deceased person. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • 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.
  • Defense attorney: Represent defendants in criminal matters.
  • 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 financial institutions. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Deposit: means a deposit of money, bonds or other things of value, creating a debtor-creditor relationship. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • 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.
  • Director: means an individual who is vested with authority as a director under §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • 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
  • 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:
  • 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 by an LLC, except for the issuance of its own membership interests or financial rights, with or without consideration, or an incurrence or issuance of indebtedness, whether directly or indirectly, including through a guaranty, to or for the benefit of any of its members or holders of financial rights, as applicable, in respect of membership interests or financial rights. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Distributor: means a party engaged in moving energy commodities, industrial materials, or their derivatives, including the transport and delivery to a retailer or customer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • 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: means a limited liability company formed under this chapter, or a limited liability company formed under the Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act, compiled in chapters 201-248 of this title, that has elected to be governed by this chapter, or, where expressly indicated, a limited liability company formed under and governed by the Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • 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
  • Drone: means a powered, aerial vehicle that:
    (A) Does not carry a human operator and is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Electronic: means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Employee: means a person who performs any service on the premises of an adult-oriented establishment on a full-time, part-time, or contract basis, whether or not the person is denominated an employee, independent contractor, agent or otherwise, and whether or not such person is paid a salary, wage, or other compensation by the operator of such business. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Employee: includes an officer but not a director. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Energy: means a resource that is marketed, or that has the potential to be marketed, as a commodity because of the resource's value as a source of power or fuel. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Energy infrastructure: means the systems or assets, including storage tanks, pipelines, gas transmission lines, or related equipment, that are necessary to produce, generate, transmit, or distribute natural gas, liquefied petroleum, liquid petroleum, and other similar forms of energy to a wholesaler, retailer, distributor, or customer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Entertainer: means any person who provides entertainment within an "adult-oriented establishment" as defined in this section, whether or not a fee is charged or accepted for entertainment and whether or not entertainment is provided as an employee, escort or an independent contractor. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Entertainer: means a person who provides:
    (A) Entertainment within an adult-oriented establishment, regardless of whether a fee is charged or accepted for entertainment and regardless of whether entertainment is provided as an employee, escort as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Entity: includes the following, whether foreign or domestic: LLCs. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Entity: means , whether foreign or domestic and whether for profit or not-for-profit, limited liability companies, corporations, unincorporated associations, real estate investment trusts, statutory or business trusts or associations, estates, general partnerships, limited partnerships, registered or unregistered limited liability partnerships, limited liability limited partnerships or similar organizations, trusts, joint ventures, two (2) or more persons having a joint or common economic interest, and local, municipal, state, United States and foreign governments. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • 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
  • Escort: means a person who, for monetary consideration in the form of a fee, commission, salary or tip, dates, socializes, visits, consorts with, accompanies, or offers to date, socialize, visit, consort or accompany to social affairs, entertainment or places of amusement or within any place of public resort or within any private quarters of a place of public resort. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Escort service: means a "person" as defined in this section, who, for a fee, commission, profit, payment or other monetary consideration, furnishes or offers to furnish escorts or provides or offers to introduce patrons to escorts. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • 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.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
  • exposition: means an exhibition of agricultural, business, manufacturing, or other industries and labor, education service organizations, social and religious groups or any other events or activities consistent with the general welfare and interests of the people of the state, and includes such services as are necessary for the care and comfort or amusement of the public. See Tennessee Code 4-57-103
  • Family recreation center: means any facility, which is oriented principally toward meeting the athletic or recreational needs of families and whose targeted customer is a minor child, including, but not limited to, the provision of one (1) or more of the following:
    (A) Ice skating. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • farm products: means forage and sod crops. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Federal Reserve System: The central bank of the United States. The Fed, as it is commonly called, regulates the U.S. monetary and financial system. The Federal Reserve System is composed of a central governmental agency in Washington, D.C. (the Board of Governors) and twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks in major cities throughout the United States. Source: OCC
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Financial rights: means a member's or holder's rights to:
    (A) Share in profits and losses, as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Firearms accessories: means items that are used in conjunction with or mounted upon a firearm but are not essential to the basic function of a firearm, including, but not limited to, telescopic or laser sights, magazines, flash or sound suppressors, folding or aftermarket stocks and grips, speedloaders, ammunition carriers and lights for target illumination. See Tennessee Code 4-54-103
  • 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: means a limited liability company that is formed under the laws of a jurisdiction other than this state. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Foreign corporation: means a corporation for profit incorporated under a law other than the laws of this state. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • 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.
  • Generic and insignificant parts: includes , but is not limited to, springs, screws, nuts and pins. See Tennessee Code 4-54-103
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Good faith: means honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Goods: includes goods which, at the time of the sale or subsequently, are to be so affixed to real property as to become a part thereof, whether or not severable therefrom. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • Goods: means all property, including, but not limited to, supplies, equipment, materials, printing, and insurance. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Governance rights: means a member's right to vote on one (1) or more matters, all of a member's other rights as a member in the LLC under the LLC documents or this chapter, other than financial rights, and the right to transfer the voting and other rights described in this subdivision (13). See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Governing body: means the board or body in which the general legislative powers of the municipality are vested. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • governmental entity: means any political subdivision of the state of Tennessee and any municipality, metropolitan government, county or airport authority. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1002
  • 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
  • Grant: means any grant awarded to the state or awarded by the state for the furnishing by the state of assistance, whether financial or otherwise, to any person to support a program authorized by law. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • 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.
  • High-cost home loan: means a home loan in which the terms of the loan meet or exceed the rate threshold or the total points and fees threshold. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • 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
  • holder: means a person, other than a member, owning any financial rights in an LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Home loan: means a loan in which:
    (A) The principal amount of the loan does not exceed the lesser of the conforming loan size limit for a single-family dwelling as established by the federal national mortgage association, or three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000). See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • 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
  • 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 infrastructure: means the systems or assets, including storage tanks, pipelines, or related equipment, that are necessary to produce, transmit, or distribute industrial materials to a wholesaler, retailer, distributor, or customer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • 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
  • interested persons: means any and all persons who have any right or easement or other right in, or incident or appurtenant to, a burial ground as such, including the surviving spouse and children, or if no surviving spouse or children, the nearest relative or relatives by consanguinity of any one (1) or more deceased persons whose remains are buried in any burial ground. See Tennessee Code 46-4-102
  • Interment: means any lawful disposition of the remains of a deceased person as provided by law. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • 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.
  • 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: includes rules promulgated in accordance with §. See Tennessee Code 48-248-102
  • 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
  • Lender: means "lender" as defined in 24 C. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Licensing authority: means the officer, board, agency, court or other authority in this state empowered to license or otherwise authorize the rendition of a professional service. See Tennessee Code 48-248-102
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Lineal descendant: Direct descendant of the same ancestors.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Livestock: means all equine as well as animals that are being raised primarily for use as food or fiber for human utilization or consumption including, but not limited to, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and poultry. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • LLC: means a limited liability company, organized under chapters 201-248 of this title. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • LLC documents: means either, or both:
    (A) An LLC's articles. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Local action: means an ordinance, resolution, regulation, code, requirement, policy, or other action or omission taken, enacted, adopted, or otherwise imposed by a political subdivision of this state. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Local government: means a municipality, county or county having a metropolitan form of government. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1902
  • Local government: means a county, municipality, or county with a metropolitan form of government. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2001
  • local governments: refers to either the city council, governing body of any county having a metropolitan form of government, or county legislative body which regulates any host community being considered for refugee resettlement activity. See Tennessee Code 4-38-102
  • Majority vote: means , with respect to a vote of the members, managers, or directors, as applicable:
    (A) If voting on a per capita basis, a majority in number of the members, managers or directors, as applicable, entitled to vote on a specific matter. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Manager: means a person who is vested with authority as a manager under §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Manufactured: means creating a firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition from basic materials for functional usefulness, including, but not limited to, forging, casting, machining or other processes for working materials. See Tennessee Code 4-54-103
  • Masochism: means sexual gratification achieved by a person through, or the association of sexual activity with, submission or subjection to physical pain, suffering, humiliation, torture or death. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Massage parlor: means an establishment or place primarily in the business of providing massage or tanning services where one (1) or more of the employees exposes to public view of the patrons within such establishment, at any time, the bare female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola, human genitals, pubic region, or buttocks, even if partially covered by opaque material or completely covered by translucent material. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Member: means a person that has been admitted to an LLC as a member, as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Member-managed: means an LLC organized pursuant to this title that has elected pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Membership: means the rights and obligations a member has pursuant to a corporation's charter, bylaws and chapters 51-68 of this title. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • 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. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • 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.
  • Municipal corporation: means an incorporated city or town. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • Municipal court: includes the city, town, mayor's, recorder's or municipal court, or other similarly functioning court, however designated, for any city, town, municipality or metropolitan government, whether the court exists pursuant to general statute, local law, private act, charter provision, municipal law, municipal ordinance or other legal authorization. See Tennessee Code 16-18-301
  • Municipality: means any county or incorporated city or town of the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • 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
  • National Credit Union Administration: The federal regulatory agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions. (NCUA also administers the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which insures the deposits of federal credit unions.) 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.
  • Notice: means , when required by this part, placing the document in the United States mail with sufficient first-class postage to carry it to its destination to the address of the person being notified as contained in their application, unless such person has notified the board in writing of such person's new address. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Notice of meeting: means the notice of meeting referred to in this part. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • nursery stock: means all trees, shrubs, or other plants, or parts of such trees, shrubs or other plants, grown or kept for, or capable of, propagation, distribution or sale on a commercial basis. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • 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.
  • Officer: means an individual, who is vested with authority as an officer under §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Official: means an agent, employee, member, or representative of a state governmental entity, but does not mean the attorney general and reporter. See Tennessee Code 4-42-102
  • Official fees: means :
    (A) The fees prescribed by law for filing, recording or otherwise perfecting or releasing or satisfying any title or lien retained or taken by seller in connection with a retail installment transaction. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • Open office: means an office at the escort service from which the escort business is transacted and that is open to patrons or prospective patrons during all hours during which escorts are working, which is managed or operated by an employee, officer, director or owner of the escort service having authority to bind the service to escort and patron contracts and adjust patron and consumer complaints. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • operating: means that:
    (A) A charter has been issued to a bank by the United States comptroller of the currency or a certificate of authority has been issued by the commissioner. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Operating agreement: means an agreement described in §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Operator: means any person, partnership, or corporation operating, conducting or maintaining an adult-oriented establishment. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Outlays: Outlays are payments made (generally through the issuance of checks or disbursement of cash) to liquidate obligations. Outlays during a fiscal year may be for payment of obligations incurred in prior years or in the same year.
  • 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: means an individual, partnership, limited partnership, firm, corporation or association. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Person: means an individual or an entity. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, limited partnership, firm, corporation or association. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Personal property: includes money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Personal representative: means , as to an individual, the executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, trustee or other legal representative of the individual, and, as to an entity, the legal representative or successor of the entity. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Plea agreement: An arrangement between the prosecutor, the defense attorney, and the defendant in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for special considerations. Source:
  • 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.
  • PLLC: means an LLC, other than a foreign professional LLC, which has elected to become subject to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 48-248-102
  • PLLC: has the meaning set forth in §. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Points and fees: means as defined in 12 C. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Policy: means an ordinance, resolution, regulation, code, or any other requirement imposed by a political subdivision of this state. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2101
  • Political subdivision: means a municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2101
  • Political subdivision: means a municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Political subdivision: means this state or a municipality, public corporation, body politic, authority, district, metropolitan government, county, agency, department, or board of one (1) or more of the entities listed. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2401
  • 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.
  • 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 executive office: means the office, in or out of this state, that is designated as the principal executive office of a domestic or foreign LLC in its articles or in an application for a certificate of authority, as applicable, as thereafter changed from time to time in accordance with this chapter. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • 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 club: means a club or organization that operates for the purpose of providing members of the club with the opportunity to engage in or view live specified sexual activities, as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 7-51-601
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Proceeding: means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Procurement: means buying, purchasing, renting, leasing, or otherwise acquiring any goods or services. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Professional service: means a service that may be lawfully rendered only by a person licensed or otherwise authorized by a licensing authority in this state to render the service and that may not be lawfully rendered by a corporation under the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, compiled in chapters 11-27 of this title or by an LLC under chapters 201-248 of this title. See Tennessee Code 48-248-102
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Proposer: includes a "bidder" or "proposer" that is a legal entity that has properly registered as required by the state. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Proxy voting: The practice of allowing a legislator to cast a vote in committee for an absent legislator.
  • 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.
  • Public utility: means :
    (A) An entity subject to the jurisdiction of the water and wastewater financing board, or a successor board, in accordance with §. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2401
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Rap parlor: means an establishment or place primarily in the business of providing nonprofessional conversation or similar service for adults. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • 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: means information that is inscribed in a tangible medium, or that is stored in an electronic or other medium, and is retrievable in perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • 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
  • Registered agent: means the person designated as the registered agent of a domestic or foreign LLC in its articles or in an application for a certificate of authority, as applicable, as thereafter changed from time to time in accordance with this chapter. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • Registered office: means the office in this state that is designated as the registered office of a domestic or foreign LLC in its articles or in an application for a certificate of authority, as applicable, as thereafter changed from time to time in accordance with this chapter. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • 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.
  • remains: means the body of a deceased person, including the body in any stage of decomposition, and cremated remains. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • Renewable energy: means energy that is derived from a source that is naturally replenishing or that is virtually inexhaustible on a human timescale. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2401
  • 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 , as to a foreign LLC, a director, manager, officer, employee or other agent of a foreign LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • 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
  • Resolution: means any resolution duly adopted by a governing body pursuant to this part. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Retail charge agreement: means an instrument or instruments prescribing the terms of retail installment transactions which may be made thereafter from time to time pursuant thereto, under which the buyer's total unpaid balance, whenever incurred, is payable in installments over a period of time and under the terms of which a time price differential, as defined in subdivision (10), is to be computed in relation to the buyer's unpaid balance from time to time. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • Retailer: means a party who markets or sells energy or industrial materials to a customer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • 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
  • Sadism: means sexual gratification achieved through, or the association of sexual activity with, the infliction of physical pain, suffering, humiliation, torture or death upon another person or animal. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • SAME program: means the state as a model employer program established pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 4-46-101
  • Sanctuary policy: means any directive, order, ordinance, resolution, practice, or policy, whether formally enacted, informally adopted, or otherwise effectuated, that:
    (A) Limits or prohibits any state governmental entity or official from communicating or cooperating with federal agencies or officials to verify or report the immigration status of any alien. See Tennessee Code 4-42-102
  • Sauna: means an establishment or place primarily in the business of providing:
    (A) A steam bath. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • 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 individual who holds the office of secretary of state of this state. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • seller: means a person regularly engaged in, and whose business consists to a substantial extent of, selling goods to a retail buyer. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Servicer: means any person who in the regular course of business assumes responsibility for servicing and accepting payments for a high-cost home loan. See Tennessee Code 45-20-102
  • Services: means work or labor furnished, whether or not furnished in connection with the delivery, installation, servicing, repair or improvement of goods and includes repairs, alterations or improvements upon or in connection with real property. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • Services: means all services and agreements obligating the state, except services for highway and road improvements, which are governed by title 54, and designer and construction services, which are governed under chapter 15 of this title. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Services: means acts performed by a cemetery company on its premises in the final interment of human remains or the installation of cemetery merchandise used in connection with final interment. See Tennessee Code 46-1-102
  • 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
  • Sexual conduct: means the engaging in or the commission of an act of sexual intercourse, oral-genital contact, or the touching of the sexual organs, pubic region, buttocks or female breast of a person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of another person. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexual encounter center: means a business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its primary business purposes, offers for any form of consideration:
    (A) Physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between persons of the opposite sex. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexual gratification: means sexual conduct as defined in this section. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexual stimulation: means to excite or arouse the prurient interest or to offer or solicit acts of sexual conduct as defined in this section. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexually-oriented escort: is a n escort that:
    (A) Employs as an employee, agent, or independent contractor an escort bureau runner. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexually-oriented material: means any book, article, magazine, publication or written matter of any kind, drawing, etching, painting, photograph, motion picture film or sound recording that depicts sexual activity, actual or simulated, involving human beings or human beings and animals, that exhibits uncovered human genitals or pubic region in a lewd or lascivious manner, or that exhibits human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely covered. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • 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
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Specified anatomical areas: means :
    (A) Less than completely and opaquely covered:
    (i) Human genitals. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Specified sexual activities: means activities, services or performances that include the following sexual activities or the exhibition of the following anatomical areas:
    (A) Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Specified sexual activities: means :
    (A) Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State agency: means a board, commission, committee, department, office, or another entity of this state. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • State governmental entity: means a state agency, department, board, or commission, or a public corporation or quasi-public instrumentality that performs essential public functions entrusted to it by the state. See Tennessee Code 4-39-101
  • State governmental entity: means any state agency, bureau, commission, council, department, law enforcement agency, or unit thereof, but does not mean the office of the attorney general and reporter. See Tennessee Code 4-42-102
  • 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.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Tennessee office for refugees: means the state office which administers the refugee program for this state, or the entity or agency to whom the state has delegated such function and that has been designated and recognized by the federal government to administer such program. See Tennessee Code 4-38-102
  • 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
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Time price differential: means the amount, however denominated or expressed, which the retail buyer contracts to pay or pays for the privilege of purchasing goods or services to be paid for by the buyer in installments. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • 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.
  • transaction: means a contract to sell or furnish or the sale of or the furnishing of goods or services by a retail seller to a retail buyer pursuant to a retail installment contract or a retail charge agreement. See Tennessee Code 47-11-102
  • Transfer: means an assignment, conveyance, deed, bill of sale, lease, mortgage, security interest, encumbrance, gift and transfer by operation of law. See Tennessee Code 48-249-102
  • 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.
  • 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: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes district, authority, bureau, commission, department, and any other agency of the United States. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • utility: means :

    (1) An entity subject to the jurisdiction of the Tennessee board of utility regulation in accordance with §. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2301
  • Vendor: means a person or entity that provides or proposes to provide goods or services to the state governmental entity pursuant to a major procurement contract, but does not include an employee of the state governmental entity, retailer or a state governmental entity. See Tennessee Code 4-39-101
  • Vendor: means a legal entity that has been established by the department of finance and administration's division of accounts as a vendor through proper authority for which payment may be made by the state. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Wholesaler: means a party engaging in the bulk purchase and sale of energy products or industrial materials in the wholesale market for the purposes of reselling energy or industrial materials to a retailer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • 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
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105