Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes > Chapter 30 > Purchases And Contracts
Acquittal:
Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A verdict of "not guilty."
act of terrorism: means : (1) any act that is intended to cause or create a risk and does cause or create a risk of death or great bodily harm to one or more persons; (2) any act that disables or destroys the usefulness or operation of any communications system; (3) any act or any series of 2 or more acts committed in furtherance of a single intention, scheme, or design that disables or destroys the usefulness or operation of a computer network, computers, computer programs, or data used by any industry, by any class of business, or by 5 or more businesses or by the federal government, State government, any unit of local government, a public utility, a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, a national defense contractor, or a manufacturer of chemical or biological products used in or in connection with agricultural production; (4) any act that disables or causes substantial damage to or destruction of any structure or facility used in or used in connection with ground, air, or water transportation; the production or distribution of electricity, gas, oil, or other fuel (except for acts that occur inadvertently and as the result of operation of the facility that produces or distributes electricity, gas, oil, or other fuel); the treatment of sewage or the treatment or distribution of water; or controlling the flow of any body of water; (5) any act that causes substantial damage to or destruction of livestock or to crops or a series of 2 or more acts committed in furtherance of a single intention, scheme, or design which, in the aggregate, causes substantial damage to or destruction of livestock or crops; (6) any act that causes substantial damage to or destruction of any hospital or any building or facility used by the federal government, State government, any unit of local government or by a national defense contractor or by a public utility, a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of chemical or biological products used in or in connection with agricultural production or the storage or processing of agricultural products or the preparation of agricultural products for food or food products intended for resale or for feed for livestock; (7) any act that causes substantial damage to any building containing 5 or more businesses of any type or to any building in which 10 or more people reside; (8) endangering the food supply; or (9) endangering the water supply. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
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.
Aggregate extension: means the annual corporate extension for the taxing district and those special purpose extensions that are made annually for the taxing district, excluding special purpose extensions: (a) made for the taxing district to pay interest or principal on general obligation bonds that were approved by referendum; (b) made for any taxing district to pay interest or principal on general obligation bonds issued before March 1, 1995; (c) made for any taxing district to pay interest or principal on bonds issued to refund or continue to refund those bonds issued before March 1, 1995; (d) made for any taxing district to pay interest or principal on bonds issued to refund or continue to refund bonds issued after March 1, 1995 that were approved by referendum; (e) made for any taxing district to pay interest or principal on revenue bonds issued before March 1, 1995 for payment of which a property tax levy or the full faith and credit of the unit of local government is pledged; however, a tax for the payment of interest or principal on those bonds shall be made only after the governing body of the unit of local government finds that all other sources for payment are insufficient to make those payments; (f) made for payments under a building commission lease when the lease payments are for the retirement of bonds issued by the commission before March 1, 1995, to pay for the building project; (g) made for payments due under installment contracts entered into before March 1, 1995; and (h) made for payments of principal and interest on bonds issued under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act to finance construction projects initiated before October 1, 1991. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/18-246
Aggregate extension base: means the taxing district's aggregate extension for the 1993 levy year as adjusted under Section 18-248. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/18-246
Air rifle: means and includes any air gun, air pistol, spring gun, spring pistol, B-B gun, paint ball gun, pellet gun or any implement that is not a firearm which impels a breakable paint ball containing washable marking colors or, a pellet constructed of hard plastic, steel, lead or other hard materials with a force that reasonably is expected to cause bodily harm. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/24.8-0.1
Allegation: something that someone says happened.
Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
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.
Appraisal: A determination of property value.
Aquaculture: means the controlled propagation, growth and harvest of aquatic organisms, including but not limited to fish, shellfish, mollusks, crustaceans, algae and other aquatic plants, by an aquaculturist. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
Aquatic products: means any aquatic plants and animals or their by-products that are produced, grown, managed, harvested and marketed on an annual, semi-annual, biennial or short-term basis, in permitted aquaculture facilities. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
artificially made or reclaimed land: as used in this Division 123, includes all land which formerly was submerged under the public waters of the state, the title to which is in the state, and which has been artificially made or reclaimed in whole or in part contrary to law. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-123-1
Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
Assignment agreement: means an agreement between a transferring unit and an issuing entity for the conveyance of all or part of any revenues or taxes received by the transferring unit from a State entity. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
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.
Bailiff: a court officer who enforces the rules of behavior in courtrooms.
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.
Biological products used in or in connection with agricultural production: includes , but is not limited to, seeds, plants, and DNA of plants or animals altered for use in crop or livestock breeding or production or which are sold, intended, designed, or produced for use in crop production or livestock breeding or production. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
board: means the legislative governing body of any county other than Cook County which has adopted the county executive form of government under this Division. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 55 ILCS 5/2-5003
Board: includes a board, commission, authority, task force, or other similar body to which one or more members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, but does not include any subcommittee thereof, and where the member receives any form of compensation on a per meeting basis; this does not include reimbursement for actual travel or other expenses necessarily incurred in discharging the duties of the office. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 420/3B-5
Budget: means an annual appropriation ordinance or annual budget as described in Division 2 of Article 8, as from time to time in effect in the financially distressed city. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
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.
Certification program: means an instructional curriculum, examination, and process for certification, recertification, and revocation of certification of certified public accountants that is administered by the Illinois CPA Society and that is officially approved by the Department to ensure that a certified public accountant possesses the necessary skills and abilities to successfully perform an attestation engagement for tax compliance review in a certified audit project. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 20 ILCS 2510/2510-5
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.
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.
Code: means any municipal ordinance that pertains to or regulates: sanitation practices; forestry practices; the attachment of bills or notices to public property; the definition, identification and abatement of public nuisances; and the accumulation, disposal and transportation of garbage, refuse and other forms of solid waste in a municipality. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-1
Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
Computer: means a device that accepts, processes, stores, retrieves, or outputs data, and includes, but is not limited to, auxiliary storage and telecommunications devices. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Computer network: means a set of related, remotely connected devices and any communications facilities including more than one computer with the capability to transmit data among them through communication facilities. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Concurrent resolution: A legislative measure, designated "S. Con. Res." and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both chambers, to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses, such as a concurrent budget resolution, or to create a temporary joint committee. Concurrent resolutions are not submitted to the President/Governor and thus do not have the force of law.
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.
Conservation management plan: means a plan approved by the Department of Natural Resources that specifies conservation and management practices, including uses that will be conducted to preserve and restore unimproved land. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/10-405
Consumer lease: means a lease that a lessor
regularly engaged in the business of leasing or selling makes to a lessee who is an individual and who takes under the lease primarily for a personal, family, or household purpose, if the total payments to be made under the lease contract, excluding payments for options to renew or buy, do not exceed $40,000. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 810 ILCS 5/2A-103
Contagious or infectious disease: means a specific disease designated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture as contagious or infectious under rules pertaining to the Illinois Diseased Animals Act. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
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.
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.
Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
County board: means the board of county commissioners in counties not under township organization, and the board of supervisors in counties under township organization, and the board of commissioners of Cook County. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.07
county clerk: shall be construed to mean the county comptroller in any county in which provision for a county comptroller shall have been made by law. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 55 ILCS 5/3-11001
County executive: means the county official elected by the voters of any county other than Cook County to be the chief executive officer to administer the county executive form of government under this Division. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 55 ILCS 5/2-5003
County executive form of government: means that form of government in which the departments of county government are administered by a single county official called the county executive elected at large by the qualified voters of the county. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 55 ILCS 5/2-5003
county moneys: shall include all moneys to whomsoever belonging, received by or in possession or control of the incumbent of the office of county treasurer when acting as such or in any other official capacity incident to his incumbency of the office of county treasurer. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 55 ILCS 5/3-11001
county treasurer: shall include the county treasurer when acting as such or in any other official capacity incident to his incumbency of the office of county treasurer. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 55 ILCS 5/3-11001
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
Crops: means plants raised for: (1) human consumption, (2) fruits that are intended for human consumption, (3) consumption by livestock, and (4) fruits that are intended for consumption by livestock. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
Data: means representations of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions, including program documentation, that are prepared in a formalized manner and are stored or processed in or transmitted by a computer. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Dealer: means any person, copartnership, association or corporation engaged in the business of selling at retail or renting any of the articles included in the definition of "air rifle". See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/24.8-0.1
Decedent: A deceased person.
deception: means knowingly to: (a) Create or confirm another's impression which is false and which the offender does not believe to be true; or (b) Fail to correct a false impression which the offender previously has created or confirmed; or (c) Prevent another from acquiring information pertinent to the disposition of the property involved; or (d) Sell or otherwise transfer or encumber property, failing to disclose a lien, adverse claim, or other legal impediment to the enjoyment of the property, whether such impediment is or is not valid, or is or is not a matter of official record; or (e) Promise performance which the offender does not intend to perform or knows will not be performed. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-4
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.
Delinquent minor: means any minor who prior to
the minor's 18th birthday has violated or attempted to violate, regardless of where the act occurred, any federal, State, county or municipal law or ordinance. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 705 ILCS 405/5-105
Departments: means for the purposes of this Act, the Department of Human Services, the Department on Aging, Department of Healthcare and Family Services and Department of Public Health, unless otherwise noted. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 20 ILCS 2407/52
Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
Deposit account: means a designated escrow account established by an issuing entity at a trust company or bank having trust powers for the deposit of transferred receipts under an assignment agreement. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
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.
Design professional: means any individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, professional corporation, or other entity that offers services under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989, or the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
Design professional: means an individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, professional corporation, or other entity that offers services under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989, or the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-39.2-10
Design-build: means a delivery system that provides responsibility within a single contract for the furnishing of architecture, engineering, land surveying, and related services as required and the labor, materials, equipment, and other construction services for the project. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
Design-build: means a delivery system that provides responsibility within a single contract for the furnishing of architecture, engineering, land surveying, and related services, as required, and the labor, materials, equipment, and other construction services for the project. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-39.2-10
Design-build contract: means a contract for a public project under this Division between a commission and a design-build entity to furnish: architecture, engineering, land surveying, public art or interpretive exhibits, and related services, as required; and the labor, materials, equipment, and other construction services for the project. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
Design-build contract: means a contract for a public project under this Division between a municipality and a design-build entity to furnish: architecture, engineering, land surveying, public art or interpretive exhibits, and related services, as required, and the labor, materials, equipment, and other construction services for the project. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-39.2-10
Design-build entity: means any individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, professional corporation, or other entity that proposes to design and construct any public project under this Division. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
Design-build entity: means an individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, professional corporation, or other entity that proposes to design and construct any public project under this Division. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-39.2-10
detention: includes the court ordered care of an alleged or adjudicated delinquent minor who requires secure custody pursuant to Section 5-125 of this Act. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 705 ILCS 405/5-105
Devise: To gift property by will.
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:
Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
Donor: The person who makes a gift.
electrical equipment: as used in this Division 37 means conductors and other equipment installed for the utilization of electricity for light, heat, or power. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-37-1
Electronic communication: includes transmissions through an electronic device including, but not limited to, a telephone, cellular phone, computer, or pager, which communication includes, but is not limited to, e-mail, instant message, text message, or voice mail. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/26.5-0.1
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
Endangering the food supply: means to knowingly: (1) bring into this State any domestic animal that
is affected with any contagious or infectious disease or any animal that has been exposed to any contagious or infectious disease;
(2) expose any animal in this State to any contagious
or infectious disease;
(3) deliver any poultry that is infected with any
contagious or infectious disease to any poultry producer pursuant to a production contract;
(4) except as permitted under the Insect Pest and
Plant Disease Act, bring or release into this State any insect pest or expose any plant to an insect pest; or
Endangering the water supply: means to knowingly contaminate a public or private water well or water reservoir or any water supply of a public utility or tamper with the production of bottled or packaged water or tamper with bottled or packaged water at a retail or wholesale mercantile establishment. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Enterprise: includes : (1) any partnership, corporation, association,
business or charitable trust, or other legal entity; and
(2) any group of individuals or other legal entities,
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.
Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
Evaluation criteria: means the requirements for the separate phases of the selection process as defined in this Division and may include the specialized experience, technical qualifications and competence, capacity to perform, past performance, experience with similar projects, assignment of personnel to the project, and other appropriate factors. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
Evaluation criteria: means the requirements for the separate phases of the selection process as defined in this Division and may include the specialized experience, technical qualifications and competence, capacity to perform, past performance, experience with similar projects, assignment of personnel to the project, and other appropriate factors. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-39.2-10
Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
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 market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
Family or household member: includes spouses, former spouses, parents, children, stepchildren and other persons related by blood or by present or prior marriage, persons who share or formerly shared a common dwelling, persons who have or allegedly share a blood relationship through a child, persons who have or have had a dating or engagement relationship, and persons with disabilities and their personal assistants. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/26.5-0.1
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 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
Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
Financial Plan: means the financially distressed city's financial plan as developed pursuant to Section 8-12-15, as from time to time in effect. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
Financially distressed city: means any municipality which is a home rule unit and which (i) is certified by the Department of Revenue as being in the highest 5% of all home rule municipalities in terms of the aggregate of the rate per cent of all taxes levied pursuant to statute or ordinance upon all taxable property of the municipality and as being in the lowest 5% of all home rule municipalities in terms of per capita tax yield, and (ii) is designated by joint resolution of the General Assembly as a financially distressed city. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
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.
Fraud Alert: A key provision of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 is the consumer's ability to place a fraud alert on their credit record. A consumer would use this option if they believe they were a victim of identity theft. Source: OCC
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
Garbage: means wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food; wastes from the handling, storage and sale of produce. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-19-2
Garbage: means any refuse products or materials including but not limited to the following: putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, sale or consumption of food; animal excretion; glass or metal containers, products or objects discarded as no longer useable; paper, wood, and cardboard waste; uprooted weeds, grass clippings, leaves and the like; ashes and cinders; discarded furniture or clothing; and dead animals. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 55 ILCS 5/5-8001
Garbage disposal area: means any area within a county but outside any city, village or incorporated town in such county to which garbage is hauled for disposal. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 55 ILCS 5/5-8001
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.
Goods: means all things that are movable at the
time of identification to the lease contract, or are fixtures (Section 2A-309), but the term does not include money, documents, instruments, accounts, chattel paper, general intangibles, or minerals or the like, including oil and gas, before extraction. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 810 ILCS 5/2A-103
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
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.
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.
harassing: means knowing conduct which is not necessary to accomplish a purpose that is reasonable under the circumstances, that would cause a reasonable person emotional distress and does cause emotional distress to another. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/26.5-0.1
Hearing officer: means a person other than a sanitation inspector or law enforcement officer having the following powers and duties: (1) to preside at an administrative hearing called to
determine whether or not a code violation exists;
(2) to hear testimony and accept evidence from the
sanitation inspector, the respondent and all interested parties relevant to the existence of a code violation;
(3) to preserve and authenticate the record of the
hearing and all exhibits and evidence introduced at the hearing;
(4) to issue and sign a written finding, decision and
order stating whether a code violation exists; and
(5) to impose penalties consistent with applicable
code provisions and to assess costs reasonably related to instituting the proceeding upon finding the respondent liable for the charged violation, provided, however, that in no event shall the hearing officer have the authority to impose a penalty of incarceration. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-1
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.
Heretofore: means any time previous to the day on which the statute takes effect; and the word "hereafter" at any time after such day. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.17
home and community-based long-term care services: means , with respect to the State Medicaid program, a service aid, or benefit, home and community-based services, including, but not limited to, home health and personal care services, that are provided to a person with a disability, and are voluntarily accepted, as part of his or her long-term care that: (i) is provided under the State's qualified home and community-based program or that could be provided under such a program but is otherwise provided under the Medicaid program; (ii) is delivered in a qualified residence; and (iii) is necessary for the person with a disability to live in the community. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 20 ILCS 2407/52
Home rule municipality: means a municipality which is a home rule unit as provided in Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
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.
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: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.36
Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.
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
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.
Issuing entity: means (i) a corporation, trust or other entity that has been established for the limited purpose of issuing obligations for the benefit of a transferring unit, or (ii) a bank or trust company in its capacity as trustee for obligations issued by such bank or trust company for the benefit of a transferring unit. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
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 resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
Joint session: When both chambers of a legislature adopt a concurrent resolution to meet together.
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.
Juror: A person who is on the jury.
Jury instructions: A judge's directions to the jury before it begins deliberations regarding the factual questions it must answer and the legal rules that it must apply. Source: U.S. Courts
Labor organization: includes any organization, labor union, craft union, or any voluntary unincorporated association designed to further the cause of the rights of union labor that is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or apprenticeships or applications for apprenticeships, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, including apprenticeships or applications for apprenticeships. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/33G-3
Late term appointee: means a person who is appointed to an office by a Governor who does not succeed himself or herself as Governor, whose appointment requires the advice and consent of the Senate, and whose appointment is confirmed by the Senate 90 or fewer days before the end of the appointing Governor's term. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 420/3A-5
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.
Lease: means a transfer of the right to
possession and use of goods for a term in return for consideration, but a sale, including a sale on approval or a sale or return, or retention or creation of a security interest is not a lease. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 810 ILCS 5/2A-103
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
Lease agreement: means the bargain, with respect
to the lease, of the lessor and the lessee in fact as found in their language or by implication from other circumstances including course of dealing or usage of trade or course of performance as provided in this Article. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 810 ILCS 5/2A-103
Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
Livestock: means cattle; calves; sheep; swine; ratite birds, including, but not limited to, ostrich and emu; aquatic products obtained through aquaculture; llamas; alpaca; buffalo; elk documented as obtained from a legal source and not from the wild; goats; horses and other equines; or rabbits raised in confinement for human consumption. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
Material support or resources: means currency or other financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, safe houses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel, transportation, any other kind of physical assets or intangible property, and expert services or expert assistance. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Metropolitan Area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the municipality or municipalities establishing an authority as provided in this Division. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-48.3-2
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.
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
New property: means (i) the assessed value, after final board of review or board of appeals action, of new improvements or additions to existing improvements on any parcel of real property that increase the assessed value of that real property during the levy year multiplied by the equalization factor issued by the Department under Section 17-30 and (ii) the assessed value, after final board of review or board of appeals action, of real property not exempt from real estate taxation, which real property was exempt from real estate taxation for any portion of the immediately preceding levy year, multiplied by the equalization factor issued by the Department under Section 17-30. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/18-246
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.
Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
oath: shall be deemed to include an affirmation, and the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.12
Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
Obligations: means bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued by the Illinois Finance Authority in connection with the provision of financial aid to a financially distressed city pursuant to this Division and applicable provisions of the Illinois Finance Authority Act. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
obtain: means : (a) In relation to property, to bring about a transfer of interest or possession, whether to the offender or to another, and (b) In relation to labor or services, to secure the performance thereof. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-7
officer: means an elected or appointed official; regardless of whether the official is compensated, and (ii) an "employee" means a full-time, part-time, or contractual employee. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 430/70-5
Operation or management: means directing or carrying out the enterprise's affairs and is limited to any person who knowingly serves as a leader, organizer, operator, manager, director, supervisor, financier, advisor, recruiter, supplier, or enforcer of an enterprise in violation of this Article. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/33G-3
Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
owner: means a person, other than the offender, who has possession of or any other interest in the property involved, even though such interest or possession is unlawful, and without whose consent the offender has no authority to exert control over the property. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-2
Participating taxpayer: means any person subject to the revenue laws administered by the Department who enters into an engagement with a qualified practitioner for tax compliance review and who is approved by the Department under the certified audit project. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 20 ILCS 2510/2510-5
Partner organization: means a nonprofit organization that meets standards set forth by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose mission includes supporting small, beginning, limited resource, or socially-disadvantaged farmers within municipalities. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
Pattern of predicate activity: means : (1) at least 3 occurrences of predicate activity that
Per stirpes: The legal means by which the children of a decedent, upon the death of an ancestor at a level above that of the decedent, receive by right of representation the share of the ancestor
Person: means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association; and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-48.3-2
Person: has the meaning given in Section 2-15 of this Code and, in addition to that meaning, includes, without limitation, any charitable organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, any professional fund raiser, professional solicitor, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, association, trust, trustee, or any group of people formally or informally affiliated or associated for a common purpose, and any officer, director, partner, member, or agent of any person. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Person under legal disability: means a person 18 years or older who (a) because of mental deterioration or physical incapacity is not fully able to manage his or her person or estate, or (b) is a person with mental illness or is a person with developmental disabilities and who because of his or her mental illness or developmental disability is not fully able to manage his or her person or estate, or (c) because of gambling, idleness, debauchery or excessive use of intoxicants or drugs, so spends or wastes his or her estate as to expose himself or herself or his or her family to want or suffering. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.06
Personal property: All property that is not real property.
Petit jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
Petty offense: A federal misdemeanor punishable by six months or less in prison. Source: U.S. Courts
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.
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
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.
Predicate activity: means any act that is a Class 2 felony or higher and constitutes a violation or violations of any of the following provisions of the laws of the State of Illinois (as amended or revised as of the date the activity occurred or, in the instance of a continuing offense, the date that charges under this Article are filed in a particular matter in the State of Illinois) or any act under the law of another jurisdiction for an offense that could be charged as a Class 2 felony or higher in this State: (1) under the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal
Preliminary hearing: A hearing where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to make the defendant have a trial.
Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
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.
Probation officers: Screen applicants for pretrial release and monitor convicted offenders released under court supervision.
Processed food: means any food other than a raw agricultural commodity and includes any raw agricultural commodity that has been subject to processing, such as canning, cooking, freezing, dehydration, or milling. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
Public art designer: means an individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, professional corporation, or other entity that has demonstrated experience with the design and fabrication of public art, including any media that has been planned and executed with the intention of being staged in the physical public domain outside and accessible to all or any art which is exhibited in a public space, including publicly accessible buildings, or interpretive exhibits, including communication media that is designed to engage, excite, inform, relate, or reveal the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of a topic or story being presented. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-39.2-10
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: when used in this Division 117, means and includes any plant, equipment, or property, and any franchise, license, or permit, used or to be used (1) for or in connection with the transportation of persons or property, or the conveyance of telegraph or telephone messages; or (2) for the production, storage, transmission, sale, delivery, or furnishing of cold, heat, light, power, water, or for the conveyance of oil or gas by pipe lines; or (3) for the storage or warehousing of goods; or (4) for the conduct of the business of a wharfinger. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-117-2
Qualified practitioner: means a certified public accountant who is licensed to practice in Illinois and who has completed the certification program. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 20 ILCS 2510/2510-5
qualified residence: means , with respect to an eligible individual: (i) a home owned or leased by the individual or the individual's authorized representative (as defined by P. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 20 ILCS 2407/52
Qualifying farmer: means an individual or entity that meets at least one of the following: (1) is a small or medium sized farmer; (2) is a beginning farmer; (3) is a limited resource farmer; or (4) is a socially-disadvantaged farmer. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
Raw agricultural commodity: means any food in its raw or natural state, including all fruits that are washed, colored, or otherwise treated in their unpeeled natural form prior to marketing and honey that is in the comb or that is removed from the comb and in an unadulterated condition. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
Recovered tax increment value: means the amount of the 1994 equalized assessed value, in the first year after a city terminates the designation of an area as a redevelopment project area previously established under the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code or previously established under the Industrial Jobs Recovery Law of the Illinois Municipal Code, or previously established under the Economic Development Area Tax Increment Allocation Act, of each taxable lot, block, tract, or parcel of real property in the redevelopment project area over and above the initial equalized assessed value of each property in the redevelopment project area. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/18-246
Refuse: means combustible trash, including, but not limited to, paper, cartons, boxes, barrels, wood, excelsior, tree branches, yard trimmings, wood furniture, bedding; noncombustible trash, including, but not limited to, metals, tin cans, metal furniture, dirt, small quantities of rock and pieces of concrete, glass, crockery, other mineral waste; street rubbish, including, but not limited to, street sweepings, dirt, leaves, catch-basin dirt, contents of litter receptacles, but refuse does not mean earth and wastes from building operations, nor shall it include solid wastes resulting from industrial processes and manufacturing operations such as food processing wastes, boiler-house cinders, lumber, scraps and shavings. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-19-2
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).
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.
Respondent: means a property owner, waste hauler or other person charged with liability for an alleged code violation and the person to whom the notice of violation is directed. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-1
Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
Right of survivorship: The ownership rights that result in the acquisition of title to property by reason of having survived other co-owners.
Sanitation inspector: means a municipal employee authorized to issue citations for code violations and to conduct inspections of public or private real property in a municipality to determine if code violations exist. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-1
Scope and performance criteria: means the requirements for the commission project, including, but not limited to, the intended usage, capacity, size, scope, quality and performance standards, life-cycle costs, and other programmatic criteria that are expressed in performance-oriented and quantifiable specifications and drawings that can be reasonably inferred and are suited to allow a design-build entity to develop a proposal. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
Scope and performance criteria: means the requirements for the public project, such as the intended usage, capacity, size, scope, quality and performance standards, life-cycle costs, and other programmatic criteria that are expressed in performance-oriented and quantifiable specifications and drawings that can be reasonably inferred and are suited to allow a design-build entity to develop a proposal. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-39.2-10
Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
Service provider agency: means an entity that enters into a services contract with a municipality or county for the purpose of providing special services in and for a special service area. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/27-5
Services contract: means an agreement between a service provider agency and a municipality or county for the purpose of providing special services in and for a special service area. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/27-5
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.
Site: means a not-for-profit organization,
public body, church, charitable organization, or individual agreeing to accept community service from offenders and to report on the progress of ordered or required public or community service to the court or to the authorized diversion program that has referred the offender for public or community service. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 705 ILCS 405/5-105
Social Worker: means a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker, as those terms are defined in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5
Solid waste: means demolition materials, food and industrial processing wastes, garden trash, land cleaning wastes, mixed refuse, non-combustible refuse, rubbish, and trash as those terms are defined in the Solid Waste Disposal District Act. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-1
speaker: means the county board member elected by the county board to serve as the lead representative for the county board, and may be referred to as the "county board speaker" "speaker" "county board chair" or "chair". See Illinois Compiled Statutes 55 ILCS 5/2-5003
Special districts: has the meaning ascribed to that term in Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.29
Special purpose extensions: includes , but is not limited to, extensions for levies made on an annual basis for unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, self-insurance, contributions to pension plans, and extensions made under § 6-601 of the Illinois Highway Code for a road district's permanent road fund, whether levied annually or not. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/18-246
Special Service Area: means a contiguous area within a municipality or county in which special governmental services are provided in addition to those services provided generally throughout the municipality or county, the cost of the special services to be paid from revenues collected from taxes levied or imposed upon property within that area. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/27-5
Special service area commission: means a local board established by the corporate authorities of a municipality or county for the purpose of managing a particular special service area. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/27-5
Special Services: means all forms of services pertaining to the government and affairs of the municipality or county, including but not limited to weather modification and improvements permissible under Article 9 of the Illinois Municipal Code, and contracts for the supply of water as described in § 11-124-1 of the Illinois Municipal Code which may be entered into by the municipality or by the county on behalf of a county service area. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/27-5
subways: as used in this Division 121, includes all tunnels, entrances, exits, passageways, connections, approaches, inclines, elevators, stations, and other structures, equipment, appliances, or appurtenant property, appropriate to a system of such subways. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-121-1
Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
Supplemental appropriation: Budget authority provided in an appropriations act in addition to regular or continuing appropriations already provided. Supplemental appropriations generally are made to cover emergencies, such as disaster relief, or other needs deemed too urgent to be postponed until the enactment of next year's regular appropriations act.
Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
Tenancy by the entirety: A type of joint tenancy between husband and wife that is recognized in some States. Neither party can sever the joint tenancy relationship; when a spouse dies, the survivor acquires full title to the property.
Tenancy in common: A type of property ownership in which two or more individuals have an undivided interest in property. At the death of one tenant in common, his (her) fractional percentage of ownership in the property passes to the decedent
Testify: Answer questions in court.
Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
threat: means a menace, however communicated, to: (a) Inflict physical harm on the person threatened or any other person or on property; or (b) Subject any person to physical confinement or restraint; or (c) Commit any criminal offense; or (d) Accuse any person of a criminal offense; or (e) Expose any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule; or (f) Harm the credit or business repute of any person; or (g) Reveal any information sought to be concealed by the person threatened; or (h) Take action as an official against anyone or anything, or withhold official action, or cause such action or withholding; or (i) Bring about or continue a strike, boycott or other similar collective action if the property is not demanded or received for the benefit of the group which he purports to represent; or (j) Testify or provide information or withhold testimony or information with respect to another's legal claim or defense; or (k) Inflict any other harm which would not benefit the offender. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-5
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.
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
Unimproved land: means woodlands, prairie, wetlands, or other vacant and undeveloped land that is not used for any residential or commercial purpose that materially disturbs the land. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/10-405
Units of local government: has the meaning established in Section 1 of Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.28
Unlawful death: includes the following offenses: under the Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012: Sections 9-1 (first degree murder) or 9-2 (second degree murder). See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/33G-3
Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
Urban agricultural area: means an area defined by a municipality and entirely within that municipality's boundaries within which one or more qualifying farmers are processing, growing, raising, or otherwise producing locally-grown agricultural products. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
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
utility: as used in this Division 123 means and includes: (1) harbors, canals, slips, wharves, docks, levees, piers, quay walls, breakwaters, and all appropriate harbor structures, facilities, connections, and improvements; and (2) such elevators, vaults, warehouses, including cold storage warehouses which may be acquired, owned, maintained, or operated in connection therewith, as necessary adjuncts or incidental to transportation or railroad terminals; and (3) all other necessary or appropriate terminal facilities. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-123-1
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.
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.
Waste hauler: means any person owning or controlling any vehicle used to carry or transport garbage, refuse or other forms of solid waste. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-1
waterworks: as used in this Division 130, means and includes a waterworks system in its entirety or any integral part thereof, including mains, hydrants, meters, valves, standpipes, storage tanks, pumping tanks, intakes, wells, impounding reservoirs, or purification plants. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-130-2
Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
