Terms Used In Texas Election Code Chapter 174 - Conventions

• Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
• Affidavit: means a statement in writing of a fact or facts signed by the party making it, sworn to before an officer authorized to administer oaths, and officially certified to by the officer under his seal of office. See Texas Government Code 312.011
• 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.
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• 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.
• Bequest: Property gifted by will.
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Comptroller: means the state comptroller of public accounts. See Texas Government Code 312.011
• County election precinct: means an election precinct established under § 42. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Devise: To gift property by will.
• Election official: means :
  (A) a county clerk;
  (B) a permanent or temporary deputy county clerk;
  (C) an elections administrator;
  (D) a permanent or temporary employee of an elections administrator;
  (E) an election judge;
  (F) an alternate election judge;
  (G) an early voting clerk;
  (H) a deputy early voting clerk;
  (I) an election clerk;
  (J) the presiding judge of an early voting ballot board;
  (K) the alternate presiding judge of an early voting ballot board;
  (L) a member of an early voting ballot board;
  (M) the chair of a signature verification committee;
  (N) the vice chair of a signature verification committee;
  (O) a member of a signature verification committee;
  (P) the presiding judge of a central counting station;
  (Q) the alternate presiding judge of a central counting station;
  (R) a central counting station manager;
  (S) a central counting station clerk;
  (T) a tabulation supervisor;
  (U) an assistant to a tabulation supervisor; and
  (V) a chair of a county political party holding a primary election or a runoff primary election. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• 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}
• 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 judge: means :
  (A) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of a United States court of appeals;
  (B) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of a United States district court;
  (C) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of a United States bankruptcy court; or
  (D) a magistrate judge, former magistrate judge, or retired magistrate judge of a United States district court. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• General election: means an election, other than a primary election, that regularly recurs at fixed dates. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
• 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.
• in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by writing, printing, or other means. See Texas Government Code 312.011
• Justice: when applied to a magistrate, means justice of the peace. See Texas Government Code 312.011
• Law: means a constitution, statute, city charter, or city ordinance. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• 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}
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Measure: means a question or proposal submitted in an election for an expression of the voters' will. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Oath: includes affirmation. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Political subdivision: means a county, city, or school district or any other governmental entity that:
  (A) embraces a geographic area with a defined boundary;
  (B) exists for the purpose of discharging functions of government; and
  (C) possesses authority for subordinate self-government through officers selected by it. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Population: means the population shown by the most recent federal decennial census. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• 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.
• Primary election: means an election held by a political party under Chapter 172 to select its nominees for public office, and, unless the context indicates otherwise, the term includes a presidential primary election. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Registered voter: means a person registered to vote in this state whose registration is effective. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Residence address: means the street address and any apartment number, or the address at which mail is received if the residence has no address, and the city, state, and zip code that correspond to a person's residence. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Signature: includes the mark of a person unable to write, and "subscribe" includes the making of such a mark. See Texas Government Code 312.011
• Signed: includes any symbol executed or adopted by a person with present intention to authenticate a writing. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• State judge: means :
  (A) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of an appellate court, a district court, a constitutional county court, a county court at law, or a statutory probate court of this state;
  (B) an associate judge appointed under Chapter 201, Family Code, or a retired associate judge or former associate judge appointed under that chapter;
  (C) a magistrate or associate judge appointed under Chapter 54 or Texas Election Code 1.005
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Swear: includes affirm. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
• Voting station: means the voting booth or other place where voters mark their ballots or otherwise indicate their votes at a polling place. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Voting year: means the 12-month period beginning January 1 of each year. See Texas Election Code 1.005