§ 5.23 Shall and May Defined
§ 5.10 Preliminary Provisions and Rules of Construction to\r\nGovern
§ 5.13 Headings of No Affect on Substance
§ 5.15 References to Laws or Codes Include Amendments\r\nThereto
§ 5.17 Tenses
§ 5.40 Parts of Code Defined
§ 5.45 Criminal Action
§ 5.50 Criminal Action Defined
§ 5.55 Peace Officer Defined
§ 5.56 Peace Officers to Yield to Guam Police Department
§ 5.60 Prosecuting Attorney Defined
§ 5.65 Territory Defined

Terms Used In Guam Code > Title 8 > Chapter 5 - Construction; Definitions

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Probation officers: Screen applicants for pretrial release and monitor convicted offenders released under court supervision.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.