Part 110 Posting Notices of New Opm Regulations
Part 120 Administrative Guidance
Part 151 Political Activity of State or Local Officers or Employees
Part 175 Opm Mandatory Review of Classified Documents
Part 177 Administrative Claims Under the Federal Tort Claims Act
Part 178 Procedures for Settling Claims
Part 179 Claims Collection Standards
Part 180 Employees’ Personal Property Claims
Part 185 Program Fraud Civil Remedies
Part 210 Basic Concepts and Definitions (General)
Part 211 Veteran Preference
Part 212 Competitive Service and Competitive Status
Part 213 Excepted Service
Part 214 Senior Executive Service
Part 230 Organization of the Government for Personnel Management
Part 250 Personnel Management in Agencies
Part 251 Agency Relationships With Organizations Representing Federal Employees and Other Organizations
Part 293 Personnel Records
Part 294 Availability of Official Information
Part 295 Testimony by Opm Employees Relating to Official Information and Production of Official Records in Legal Proceedings
Part 297 Privacy Procedures for Personnel Records
Part 300 Employment (General)
Part 301 Overseas Employment
Part 302 Employment in the Excepted Service
Part 304 Expert and Consultant Appointments
Part 307 Veterans Recruitment Appointments
Part 308 Volunteer Service
Part 310 Employment of Relatives
Part 315 Career and Career-Conditional Employment
Part 316 Temporary and Term Employment
Part 317 Employment in the Senior Executive Service
Part 319 Employment in Senior-Level and Scientific and Professional Positions
Part 330 Recruitment, Selection, and Placement (General)
Part 332 Recruitment and Selection Through Competitive Examination
Part 334 Temporary Assignments Under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (Ipa)
Part 335 Promotion and Internal Placement
Part 337 Examining System
Part 338 Qualification Requirements (General)
Part 339 Medical Qualification Determinations
Part 340 Other Than Full-Time Career Employment (Part-Time, Seasonal, On-Call, and Intermittent)
Part 351 Reduction in Force
Part 352 Reemployment Rights
Part 353 Restoration to Duty From Uniformed Service or Compensable Injury
Part 359 Removal From the Senior Executive Service; Guaranteed Placement in Other Personnel Systems
Part 362 Pathways Programs
Part 370 Information Technology Exchange Program
Part 410 Training
Part 412 Supervisory, Management, and Executive Development
Part 430 Performance Management
Part 432 Performance Based Reduction in Grade and Removal Actions
Part 451 Awards
Part 470 Personnel Management Research Programs and Demonstrations Projects
Part 511 Classification Under the General Schedule
Part 530 Pay Rates and Systems (General)
Part 531 Pay Under the General Schedule
Part 532 Prevailing Rate Systems
Part 534 Pay Under Other Systems
Part 535 Critical Position Pay Authority
Part 536 Grade and Pay Retention
Part 537 Repayment of Student Loans
Part 550 Pay Administration (General)
Part 551 Pay Administration Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Part 553 Reemployment of Civilian Retirees to Meet Exceptional Employment Needs
Part 572 Travel and Transportation Expenses; New Appointees and Interviews
Part 575 Recruitment, Relocation, and Retention Incentives; Supervisory Differentials; and Extended Assignment Incentives
Part 576 Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments
Part 581 Processing Garnishment Orders for Child Support And/Or Alimony
Part 582 Commercial Garnishment of Federal Employees’ Pay
Part 591 Allowances and Differentials
Part 595 Physicians’ Comparability Allowances
Part 610 Hours of Duty
Part 630 Absence and Leave
Part 715 Nondisciplinary Separations, Demotions, and Furloughs
Part 720 Affirmative Employment Programs
Part 723 Enforcement of Nondiscrimination On the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Office of Personnel Management
Part 724 Implementation of Title II of the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002
Part 730 Notification of Post-Employment Restrictions
Part 731 Suitability
Part 732 National Security Positions
Part 733 Political Activity–Federal Employees Residing in Designated Localities
Part 734 Political Activities of Federal Employees
Part 735 Employee Responsibilities and Conduct
Part 736 Personnel Investigations
Part 752 Adverse Actions
Part 754 Complaint Procedures, Adverse Actions, and Appeals for Criminal History Inquiries Prior to Conditional Offer
Part 771 Agency Administrative Grievance System
Part 772 Interim Relief
Part 792 Federal Employees’ Health, Counseling, and Work/Life Programs
Part 831 Retirement
Part 835 Debt Collection
Part 837 Reemployment of Annuitants
Part 838 Court Orders Affecting Retirement Benefits
Part 839 Correction of Retirement Coverage Errors Under the Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act
Part 841 Federal Employees Retirement System–General Administration
Part 842 Federal Employees Retirement System–Basic Annuity
Part 843 Federal Employees Retirement System–Death Benefits and Employee Refunds
Part 844 Federal Employees’ Retirement System–Disability Retirement
Part 845 Federal Employees Retirement System–Debt Collection
Part 846 Federal Employees Retirement System–Elections of Coverage
Part 847 Elections of Retirement Coverage by Current and Former Employees of Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities
Part 848 Phased Retirement
Part 849 Representative Payees
Part 850 Electronic Retirement Processing
Part 870 Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program
Part 875 Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program
Part 880 Retirement and Insurance Benefits During Periods of Unexplained Absence
Part 890 Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
Part 891 Retired Federal Employees Health Benefits
Part 892 Federal Flexible Benefits Plan: Pre-Tax Payment of Health Benefits Premiums
Part 894 Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
Part 900 Intergovernmental Personnel Act Programs
Part 911 Procedures for States and Localities to Request Indemnification
Part 919 Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)
Part 920 Timing of Criminal History Inquiries
Part 930 Programs for Specific Positions and Examinations (Miscellaneous)
Part 950 Solicitation of Federal Civilian and Uniformed Service Personnel for Contributions to Private Voluntary Organizations
Part 960 Federal Executive Boards

Terms Used In CFR > Title 5 > Chapter I > Subchapter B - Civil Service Regulations

  • Acceptance number: means the number in a sampling plan that indicates the maximum number of deviants permitted in a sample of a lot that meets a specific requirement. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Act: means the applicable provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60 Stat. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Act: means the applicable provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60 Stat. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Act: means the Federal Seed Act approved August 9, 1939 (53 Stat. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • administrative offset: includes , but is not limited to, the offset of Federal salary, vendor, retirement, and Social-Security-benefit payments. See 5 CFR 2418.1
  • Administrator: means the Administrator of Agricultural Marketing Service. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Administrator: means the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Adverse Action Notice: The notice required by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act advising a credit applicant or existing debtor of the denial of their request for credit or advising of a change in terms considered unfavorable to the account holder. Source: OCC
  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • agency designee: refers to any employee who has been delegated authority by an instruction or manual issuance issued by a bureau under paragraph (b) of this section to make a determination, give an approval, or take other action required or permitted by this part or part 2635 of this title with respect to another employee. See 5 CFR 3101.101
  • Agreement Officer: includes persons warranted as "Grant Officers. See 2 CFR 700.1
  • Agricultural Marketing Service: means the Agricultural Marketing Service of the Department. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • agricultural seeds: means the following kinds of grass, forage, and field crop seeds, that are used for seeding purposes in the United States:

    Agrotricum— × Agrotriticum Cif. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
  • amounts required by law to be withheld: include amounts for deductions such as social security taxes and withholding taxes, but do not include any amount withheld pursuant to a court order. See 7 CFR 3.52
  • Annual percentage rate: The cost of credit at a yearly rate. It is calculated in a standard way, taking the average compound interest rate over the term of the loan so borrowers can compare loans. Lenders are required by law to disclose a card account's APR. Source: FDIC
  • annuitant: means an individual who, on the basis of his service, or as a survivor annuitant, has met all the requirements of subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, for title to an annuity and has filed claim therefor. See 5 CFR 831.1102
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Applicant: means any interested party who has applied for inspection service under the regulations in this part. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Applicant: means any interested party who requests inspection service under the regulations in this part. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • 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
  • Approved plant: means any plant in which the facilities, sanitation, and methods of operation have been surveyed and approved for specific product(s) by the Administrator as suitable and adequate for inspection or grading service in accordance with §§ 52. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • 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.
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney: A federal prosecutor who represents the U.S. government and its citizens when a federal statute has been violated.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Balanced budget: A budget in which receipts equal outlays.
  • 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.
  • biobased product: includes , with respect to forestry materials, forest products that meet biobased content requirements, notwithstanding the market share the product holds, the age of the product, or whether the market for the product is new or emerging. See 7 CFR 3202.2
  • brand: means a name, term, sign, symbol, or design, or a combination of them that identifies the seed of one seller or group of sellers and differentiates that seed from the seed of other sellers. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Budget authority: Authority provided by law to enter into obligations that will result in outlays of Federal funds. Budget authority may be classified by the period of availability (one-year, multiyear, no-year), by the timing of congressional action (current or permanent), or by the manner of determining the amount available (definite or indefinite).
  • Case: means the number of containers (cased or uncased) which, by the particular industry are ordinarily packed in a shipping container. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Case law: The law as laid down in cases that have been decided in the decisions of the courts.
  • Caucus: From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the legislature that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.
  • centralized offset: refer to the process by which the Treasury Department's Financial Management Service offsets Federal payments through the Treasury Offset Program. See 5 CFR 2418.1
  • certified: refers to a performance appraisal system that has this certification, including a performance appraisal system for which certification has been reinstated after suspension under § 430. See 5 CFR 534.503
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Circumstantial evidence: All evidence except eyewitness testimony.
  • Civil forfeiture: The loss of ownership of property used to conduct illegal activity.
  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • coated seed: means any seed unit covered with a coating material. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • coating material: means any substance that changes the size, shape, or weight of the original seed. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Collection of information: includes any requirement or request for persons to obtain, maintain, retain, report, or publicly disclose information. See 5 CFR 1320.3
  • Committee membership: Legislators are assigned to specific committees by their party. Seniority, regional balance, and political philosophy are the most prominent factors in the committee assignment process.
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Community Reinvestment Act: The Act is intended to encourage depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. It was enacted by the Congress in 1977. Source: OCC
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • complete record: means information which relates to the origin, treatment (including but not limited to coating, film coating, encrusting, or pelleting), germination, and purity (including variety) of each lot of agricultural seed transported or delivered for transportation in interstate commerce, or which relates to the treatment (including but not limited to coating, film coating, encrusting, or pelleting), germination, and variety of each lot of vegetable seed transported or delivered for transportation in interstate commerce. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • completed and signed: include , but are not limited to, DHS completing its collection of information into its electronic record of admission, or arrival/departure. See 8 CFR 1.4
  • Condition: means the degree of soundness of the product which may affect its merchantability and includes, but is not limited to those factors which are subject to change as a result of age, improper preparation and processing, improper packaging, improper storage or improper handling. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Conferees: Legislators appointed to serve on conference committees. They are also called "managers." Conferees are usually appointed from the committee or committees that reported the legislation; they are expected to try and uphold their chamber's position on measures when they negotiate with conferees from the other chamber.
  • Conference committee: A temporary, ad hoc panel composed of conferees from both chamber of a legislature which is formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. Conference committees are usually convened to resolve bicameral differences on major and controversial legislation.
  • Conference report: The compromise product negotiated by the conference committee. The "conference report" is submitted to each chamber for its consideration, such as approval or disapproval.
  • Congressional Record: The substantially verbatim account of daily proceedings in Congress. It is printed for each day Congress is in session. At the back of each daily issue is the "Daily Digest," which summarizes the day's floor and committee activities.
  • consumer: means any person who purchases or otherwise obtains seed for sowing but not for resale. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Contingent beneficiary: Receiver of property or benefits if the first named beneficiary fails to receive any or all of the property or benefits in question before his (her) death.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Controlling the pollination: means to use a method of hybridization which will produce pure seed which is at least 75 percent hybrid seed. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Controlling the pollination: means to use a method of hybridization that will produce pure seed that is at least 75 percent hybrid seed. See 7 CFR 361.1
  • 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.
  • cottonseed: as used in this part means the seed, after having been put through the usual and customary process known as cotton ginning, of any cotton produced within the continental United States. See 7 CFR 61.2
  • Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
  • country shipper: means any person located in a producing area who purchases seed locally for shipment to seed dealers or to other country shippers. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Court reporter: A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court and produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.
  • Credit bureau: An agency that collects individual credit information and sells it for a fee to creditors so they can make a decision on granting loans. Typical clients include banks, mortgage lenders, credit card companies, and other financing companies. (Also commonly referred to as consumer-reporting agency or credit-reporting agency.) Source: OCC
  • Credit report: A detailed report of an individual's credit history prepared by a credit bureau and used by a lender in determining a loan applicant's creditworthiness. Source: OCC
  • Credit Score: A number, roughly between 300 and 800, that measures an individual's credit worthiness. The most well-known type of credit score is the FICO score. This score represents the answer from a mathematical formula that assigns numerical values to various pieces of information in your credit report. Source: OCC
  • Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • dealer: means any person who cleans, processes, sells, offers for sale, transports, or delivers for transportation seeds in interstate commerce. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • declaration: means a written statement of a grower, shipper, processor, dealer, or importer giving for any lot of seed the kind, variety, type, origin, or the use for which the seed is intended. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • declaration of origin: means a declaration of a grower or country shipper in the United States stating for each lot of agricultural seed (1) kind of seed, (2) lot number or other identification, (3) State where seed was grown and the county where grown if to be labeled showing the origin as a portion of a State, (4) quantity of seed, (5) date shipped or delivered, (6) to whom sold, shipped, or delivered, and (7) the signature and address of the grower or country shipper issuing the declaration. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • 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.
  • Department: means the U. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Department: means the United States Department of Agriculture. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • 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.
  • Descendent: One who is directly descended from another such as a child, grandchild, or great grandchild.
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • direct loan: means a disbursement of funds by the Federal Government to a non-Federal borrower under a contract that requires the repayment of such funds with or without interest. See 2 CFR 200.1
  • 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:
  • disposal agency: as used in this part refers to GSA. See 41 CFR 102-75.5
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Donee: The recipient of a gift.
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • double cross: means the first generation hybrid between two single crosses. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • dwelling: means a residential structure (whether or not it is attached to real property) located in a state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. See 12 CFR 128.1
  • Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) Source: OCC
  • Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. Source: OCC
  • Employee: includes a person who has applied for retirement under FERS but had not been separated from the service prior to his or her death, even if the person's retirement would have been retroactively effective upon separation. See 5 CFR 843.102
  • En banc: In the bench or "full bench." Refers to court sessions with the entire membership of a court participating rather than the usual quorum. U.S. courts of appeals usually sit in panels of three judges, but may expand to a larger number in certain cases. They are then said to be sitting en banc.
  • endorse: includes but is not limited to the submission of electronic departure data to CBP. See 8 CFR 1.4
  • Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
  • Equal Credit Opportunity Act: Prohibits creditors from discriminating against credit applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because an applicant receives income from a public assistance program. Source: OCC
  • 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
  • Escheat: Reversion of real or personal property to the state when 1) a person dies without leaving a will and has no heirs, or 2) when the property (such as a bank account) has been inactive for a certain period of time. Source: OCC
  • 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.
  • Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Extradition: The formal process of delivering an accused or convicted person from authorities in one state to authorities in another state.
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act: A federal law, established in 1971 and revised in 1997, that gives consumers the right to see their credit records and correct any mistakes. Source: OCC
  • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a set of United States statutes added as Title VIII of the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Its purpose is to ensure ethical practices in the collection of consumer debts and to provide consumers with an avenue for disputing and obtaining validation of debt information in order to ensure the information's accuracy. It is often used in conjunction with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Source: OCC
  • 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 Deposit Insurance Corporation: A government corporation that insures the deposits of all national and state banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System. Source: OCC
  • Federal question: Jurisdiction given to federal courts in cases involving the interpretation and application of the U.S. Constitution, acts of Congress, and treaties.
  • 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
  • Federal-State Inspection Agency: means any State agency, business association or trade organization, private firm, or other person or corporation with which the Department has entered into a cooperative agreement for inspection service. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • 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 charge: The total cost of credit a customer must pay on a consumer loan, including interest. The Truth in Lending Act requires disclosure of the finance charge. Source: OCC
  • 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.
  • Fixed Rate: Having a "fixed" rate means that the APR doesn't change based on fluctuations of some external rate (such as the "Prime Rate"). In other words, a fixed rate is a rate that is not a variable rate. A fixed APR can change over time, in several circumstances:
    • You are late making a payment or commit some other default, triggering an increase to a penalty rate
    • The bank changes the terms of your account and you do not reject the change.
    • The rate expires (if the rate was fixed for only a certain period of time).
  • Forbearance: A means of handling a delinquent loan. A
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • 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.
  • Freedom of Information Act: A federal law that mandates that all the records created and kept by federal agencies in the executive branch of government must be open for public inspection and copying. The only exceptions are those records that fall into one of nine exempted categories listed in the statute. Source: OCC
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • Germane: On the subject of the pending bill or other business; a strict standard of relevance.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • given: include , but are not limited to, the creation of an electronic record of admission, or arrival/departure by DHS following an inspection performed by an immigration officer. See 8 CFR 1.4
  • 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
  • Grade: means a class or rank of quality. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • grader: means any employee of the Department authorized by the Secretary or any other person licensed by the Secretary to investigate, sample, inspect, and certify in accordance with the regulations in this part to any interested party the class, quality and condition of processed products covered in this part and to perform related duties in connection with the inspection service. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
  • grower: means any person who produces directly or through a growing contract, or is a seed-crop sharer in seed which is sold, offered for sale, transported, or offered for transportation. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. Source: OCC
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Has a record of such an impairment: means has a history of, or has been misclassified as having, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. See 15 CFR 8c.3
  • Hearing Clerk: means the Hearing Clerk, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC;

    (e) Respondent. See 7 CFR 201.2

  • Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
  • 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.
  • inbred line: means a relatively true-breeding strain resulting from at least five successive generations of controlled self-fertilization or of backcrossing to a recurrent parent with selection, or its equivalent, for specific characteristics. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • 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.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • inoculant: means a product consisting of microorganisms applied to the seed for the purpose of enhancing the availability or uptake of plant nutrients through the root system. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Inspection certificate: means a statement, either written or printed, issued pursuant to the regulations in this part, setting forth in addition to appropriate descriptive information relative to a processed product, and the container thereof, the quality and condition, or any part thereof, of the product and may include a description of the conditions under which the product is stored. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Inspection service: means :

    (1) The Service established and conducted under the regulations in this part for the determination and certification or other identification as to the grade, the quality and/or condition of fresh fruits or vegetables and related products including the condition of container. See 7 CFR 51.2

  • Inspector: means any employee of the Department authorized by the Secretary or any other person licensed by the Secretary, to investigate, sample, inspect, and certify, in accordance with the regulations in this part, to any interested party the quality, quantity and/or condition of any fresh product covered in this part, and to perform related duties in connection with the inspection service. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Inspector in Charge: means any inspector designated on a plant working shift or in a field office laboratory as the inspector in charge of the inspection work when authorized by the Administrator to act in that capacity. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.
  • Inter vivos: Transfer of property from one living person to another living person.
  • 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
  • Interested party: means any person who has a financial interest in the product for which inspection is requested. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Interested party: means any person who has a financial interest in the commodity involved. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
  • Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
  • Irrevocable trust: A trust arrangement that cannot be revoked, rescinded, or repealed by the grantor.
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Joint tenancy: A form of property ownership in which two or more parties hold an undivided interest in the same property that was conveyed under the same instrument at the same time. A joint tenant can sell his (her) interest but not dispose of it by will. Upon the death of a joint tenant, his (her) undivided interest is distributed among the surviving joint tenants.
  • Judgement: The official decision of a court finally determining the respective rights and claims of the parties to a suit.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Law clerk: Assist judges with research and drafting of opinions.
  • Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
  • Layover: Informal term for a period of delay required by rule. For example, when a bill or other measure is reported from committee, it may be considered on the floor only after it "lies over" for one legislative day and after the written report has been available for two calendar days. Layover periods may be waived by unanimous consent.
  • 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
  • Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Licensed sampler: means any person who is authorized by the Secretary to draw samples of processed products for inspection service, to inspect for identification and condition of containers in a lot, and may, when authorized by the Administrator, perform related services under the act and the regulations in this part. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Life estate: A property interest limited in duration to the life of the individual holding the interest (life tenant).
  • Lineal descendant: Direct descendant of the same ancestors.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • lot of seed: means a definite quantity of seed identified by a lot number, every portion or bag of which is uniform, within permitted tolerances, for the factors which appear in the labeling. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Markup: The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation.
  • milk: shall include reconstituted or recombined milk. See 7 CFR 245.2
  • mixture: means seeds consisting of more than one kind or variety, each present in excess of 5 percent by weight of the whole. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • mortgage: as used in this part , except § 203. See 24 CFR 203.17
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Mortgage loan: A loan made by a lender to a borrower for the financing of real property. Source: OCC
  • Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
  • Mortgagor: The person who pledges property to a creditor as collateral for a loan and who receives the money.
  • move: shall be construed accordingly. See 7 CFR 301.52-1
  • move: shall be construed accordingly. See 7 CFR 301.80-1
  • move: shall be construed in accordance with this definition. See 7 CFR 301.85-1
  • move: shall be construed in accordance with this definition. See 7 CFR 301.87-1
  • move: shall be construed accordingly. See 7 CFR 301.91-1
  • moved: shall be construed in accordance with this definition. See 7 CFR 301.45-1
  • 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
  • news: means information that is about current events or that would be of current interest to the public. See 10 CFR 1004.2
  • news: means information that is about current events or that would be of current interest to the public. See 11 CFR 9405.2
  • news: means information that is about current events or that would be of current interest to the public. See 5 CFR 2604.103
  • news: means information that is about current events or information that would be of interest to the public. See 5 CFR 10400.3
  • 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.
  • not certified: refers to a performance appraisal system that does not have this certification, or for which a previously granted certification has expired or is suspended under § 430. See 5 CFR 534.503
  • 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.
  • off-type: means a plant or seed which deviates in one or more characteristics from that which has been described in accordance with § 201. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Open-end credit: A credit agreement (typically a credit card) that allows a customer to borrow against a preapproved credit line when purchasing goods and services. The borrower is only billed for the amount that is actually borrowed plus any interest due. (Also called a charge account or revolving credit.) Source: OCC
  • Oral argument: An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.
  • Original bill: A bill which is drafted by a committee. It is introduced by the committee or subcommittee chairman after the committee votes to report it.
  • 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.
  • Packing plant: means the premises, buildings, structures, and equipment including but not limited to, machines, utensils, fixtures, employed or used with respect to preparation and packing the product. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • 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.
  • payment: includes disbursements made pursuant to prime contracts awarded under the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Federal awards subject to this part that are expended by recipients. See 2 CFR 200.1
  • Person: means any individual, partnership, association, business trust, corporation, any organized group of persons (whether incorporated or not), the United States (including, but not limited to, any corporate agencies thereof), and any State, county, or municipal government, any common carrier, and any authorized agent of any of the foregoing. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • person: includes an individual partnership, corporation, company, society, association, receiver, trustee, or agent;

    (c) Secretary. See 7 CFR 201.2

  • Person: means any individual, partnership, association, business trust, corporation, any organized group of persons (whether incorporated or not), the United States (including, but not limited to, any corporate agencies thereof), any State, county, or municipal government, any common carrier, and any authorized agent of any of the foregoing. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • physical or mental impairment: includes , but is not limited to, such diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, and drug addiction and alcoholism. See 1 CFR 457.103
  • physical or mental impairment: includes , but is not limited to, such diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), and drug addiction and alcoholism. See 5 CFR 1636.103
  • physical or mental impairment: includes , but is not limited to, such diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), and drug addiction and alcoholism. See 7 CFR 15e.103
  • physical or mental impairment: includes , but is not limited to, such diseases and conditions as orthopedic; visual, speech, and hearing impairments; cerebral palsy; epilepsy; muscular dystrophy; multiple sclerosis; cancer; heart disease; diabetes; mental retardation; emotional illness; and drug addition and alcoholism. See 11 CFR 9420.2
  • Physical or mental impairment: includes —

    (i) Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: Neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or

    (ii) Any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities. See 15 CFR 8c.3

  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plant: means the premises, buildings, structure, and equipment (including, but not being limited to machines, utensils, vehicles, and fixtures located in or about the premises) used or employed in the preparation, processing, handling, transporting and storage of fruits and vegetables, or the processed products thereof. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • 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.
  • 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
  • practical utility: means that actual uses can be demonstrated. See 5 CFR 1320.3
  • 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.
  • President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
  • 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.
  • Private law: A private bill enacted into law. Private laws have restricted applicability, often addressing immigration and naturalization issues affecting individuals.
  • Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Processed product: means any fruit, vegetable, or other food product covered under the regulations in this part which has been preserved by any recognized commercial process, including, but not limited to canning, freezing, dehydrating, drying, the addition of chemical substances, or by fermentation. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public debt: Cumulative amounts borrowed by the Treasury Department or the Federal Financing Bank from the public or from another fund or account. The public debt does not include agency debt (amounts borrowed by other agencies of the Federal Government). The total public debt is subject to a statutory limit.
  • 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.
  • purity: means the name or names of the kind, type, or variety and the percentage or percentages thereof; the percentage of other agricultural seed; the percentage of weed seeds, including noxious-weeds seeds; the percentage of inert matter; and the names of the noxious-weed seeds and the rate of occurrence of each. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Quality: means the combination of the inherent properties or attributes of a product which determines its relative degree of excellence. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Quality: means the inherent properties of any processed product which determine the relative degree of excellence of such product, and includes the effects of preparation and processing, and may or may not include the effects of packing media, or added ingredients. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Ranking minority member: The highest ranking (and usually longest serving) minority member of a committee or subcommittee.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
  • Recourse: An arrangement in which a bank retains, in form or in substance, any credit risk directly or indirectly associated with an asset it has sold (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) that exceeds a pro rata share of the bank's claim on the asset. If a bank has no claim on an asset it has sold, then the retention of any credit risk is recourse. Source: FDIC
  • Regulations: means the regulations in this subpart. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • regulations: means the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture and the joint rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Agriculture under the Act. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Request for access to a record: means a request made under Privacy Act, 5 U. See 1 CFR 304.20
  • Request for an accounting: means a request made under Privacy Act, 5 U. See 1 CFR 304.20
  • Requester: means an individual who makes a request for access, a request for amendment or correction, or a request for an accounting under the Privacy Act. See 1 CFR 304.20
  • 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.
  • Retiree: as used in this subpart , does not include a current spouse, former spouse, child, or person with an insurable interest receiving a survivor annuity. See 5 CFR 842.602
  • Retiree: as used in this subpart , does not include a current spouse, former spouse, child, or person with an insurable interest receiving a survivor annuity. See 5 CFR 831.603
  • Revocable trust: A trust agreement that can be canceled, rescinded, revoked, or repealed by the grantor (person who establishes the trust).
  • Right of survivorship: The ownership rights that result in the acquisition of title to property by reason of having survived other co-owners.
  • Sample: means any number of sample units to be used for inspection. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Sample: means any number of sample units to be used for inspection. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Sample unit: means a container and/or its entire contents, a portion of the contents of one or more containers or other unit of commodity, or a composite mixture of a product used for inspection. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Sampling: means the act of selecting samples of a commodity for the purpose of inspection under the regulations in this part. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Sampling: means the act of selecting samples of processed products for the purpose of inspection under the regulations in this part. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • savings association: means any Federal savings association as defined in 12 U. See 12 CFR 128.1
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States or any officer or employee of the Agricultural Marketing Service to whom authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be delegated, to act in his stead. See 7 CFR 51.2
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, or any officer or employee of the Department to whom authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be delegated, to act in his stead;

    (d) Hearing Clerk. See 7 CFR 201.2

  • Secretary: means the Secretary of the Department or any other officer or employee of the Department authorized to exercise the powers and to perform the duties of the Secretary in respect to the matters covered by the regulations in this part. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Secretary: as used in this subpart A, shall have the meanings given these terms in 24 CFR part 5. See 24 CFR 200.3
  • Sequester: To separate. Sometimes juries are sequestered from outside influences during their deliberations.
  • 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.
  • shipping case: means a unit consisting of a given number of primary containers of the same size, the number and arrangement per unit conforming to customary trade practice. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • Shipping container: means an individual container designed for shipping a number of packages or cans ordinarily packed in a container for shipping or designed for packing unpackaged processed products for shipping. See 7 CFR 52.2
  • single cross: means the first generation hybrid between two inbred lines. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Special Government Employee: as used in this part has the same meaning as in 18 U. See 5 CFR 4601.101
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • ten or more persons: refers to the persons to whom a collection of information is addressed by the agency within any 12-month period, and to any independent entities to which the initial addressee may reasonably be expected to transmit the collection of information during that period, including independent State, territorial, tribal or local entities and separately incorporated subsidiaries or affiliates. See 5 CFR 1320.3
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • top cross: means the first generation hybrid of a cross between an inbred line and an open-pollinated variety or the first-generation hybrid between a single cross and an open-pollinated variety. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Truth in Lending Act: The Truth in Lending Act is a federal law that requires lenders to provide standardized information so that borrowers can compare loan terms. In general, lenders must provide information on Source: OCC
  • 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: means the States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. See 7 CFR 319.15
  • United States: means the States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. See 7 CFR 319.24
  • United States: means the States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. See 7 CFR 319.41
  • United States: means the States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. See 7 CFR 319.55
  • Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
  • User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
  • Usury: Charging an illegally high interest rate on a loan. Source: OCC
  • Variable Rate: Having a "variable" rate means that the APR changes from time to time based on fluctuations in an external rate, normally the Prime Rate. This external rate is known as the "index." If the index changes, the variable rate normally changes. Also see Fixed Rate.
  • vegetable seeds: means the seeds of the following kinds that are or may be grown in gardens or on truck farms and are or may be generally known and sold under the name of vegetable seeds:

    Artichoke—Cynara cardunculus L. See 7 CFR 201.2
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • Veto: The procedure established under the Constitution by which the President/Governor refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President/Governor returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The President/Governor usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. In Congress, the veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.
  • Victim advocate: work with prosecutors and assist the victims of a crime.
  • Whips: Assistants to the floor leaders who are also elected by their party conferences. The Majority and Minority Whips (and their assistants) are responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues. In the absence of a party floor leader, the whip often serves as acting floor leader.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • you: when used in this subpart, refers to the State agency for surplus property (SASP). See 41 CFR 102-37.375