Terms Used In Indiana Code > Title 36 > Article 6

• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• capital improvement: means :

  Indiana Code 36-6-9-2

• capital improvement fund: means a township fund, the money in which may be used for the payment of capital improvements. See Indiana Code 36-6-9-3
• Clerk: means the clerk of the court or a person authorized to perform the clerk's duties. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• 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.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• 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.
• former township government: means a township government that merges with at least one (1) other township government under this chapter. See Indiana Code 36-6-1.5-2
• Highway: includes county bridges and state and county roads, unless otherwise expressly provided. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Judgment: means all final orders, decrees, and determinations in an action and all orders upon which executions may issue. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• 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.
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• merged township government: means the township government that results from the merger of at least two (2) township governments under IC 36-6-1. See Indiana Code 36-6-1.6-1
• new township government: means the township government that results from the merger of at least two (2) township governments under this chapter. See Indiana Code 36-6-1.5-3
• newspaper: refers to a newspaper:

  Indiana Code 5-3-1-0.4

• Oath: includes "affirmation" and "to swear" includes to "affirm". See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• plan: refers to a township capital improvement plan adopted or amended under this chapter. See Indiana Code 36-6-9-4
• Population: has the meaning set forth in IC 1-1-3. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Probate: Proving a will
• Property: includes personal and real property. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• qualified publication: means a publication that:

  Indiana Code 5-3-1-0.7

• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• real property: include lands, tenements, and hereditaments. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• reestablished township government: means a township government that:

  Indiana Code 36-6-1.6-2

• 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.
• Sheriff: means the sheriff of the county or another person authorized to perform sheriff's duties. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• United States: includes the District of Columbia and the commonwealths, possessions, states in free association with the United States, and the territories. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Verified: when applied to pleadings, means supported by oath or affirmation in writing. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
• Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5