Terms Used In Iowa Code > Chapter 372 - Organization of City Government

• Administrative agency: means an agency established by a city for any city purpose or for the administration of any city facility, as provided in chapter 392, except a board established to administer a municipal utility, a zoning commission and zoning board of adjustment, or any other agency which is controlled by state law. See Iowa Code 362.2
• Amendment: means a revision or repeal of an existing ordinance or code of ordinances. See Iowa Code 362.2
• 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.
• Charter: means the form of government selected by a city as provided in chapter 372. See Iowa Code 362.2
• City code: means the city code of Iowa. See Iowa Code 362.2
• Clerk: means the recording and recordkeeping officer of a city regardless of title. See Iowa Code 362.2
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Council: means the governing body of a city. See Iowa Code 362.2
• Council member: means a member of a council, including an alderman. See Iowa Code 362.2
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• 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.
• following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
• month: means a calendar month, and the word "year" and the abbreviation "A. See Iowa Code 4.1
• motion: means a council statement of policy or a council order for action to be taken, but "motion" does not require a recorded vote. See Iowa Code 362.2
• Officer: means a natural person elected or appointed to a fixed term and exercising some portion of the power of a city. See Iowa Code 362.2
• Ordinance: means a city law of a general and permanent nature. See Iowa Code 362.2
• Person: means an individual, firm, partnership, domestic or foreign corporation, company, association or joint stock association, trust, or other legal entity, and includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative thereof, but does not include a governmental body. See Iowa Code 362.2
• 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.
• property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Rule: includes "regulation". See Iowa Code 4.1
• state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
• summary: shall mean a narrative description of the terms and conditions of an ordinance setting forth the main points of the ordinance in a manner calculated to inform the public in a clear and understandable manner the meaning of the ordinance and which shall provide the public with sufficient notice to conform to the desired conduct required by the ordinance. See Iowa Code 331.302
• United States: includes all the states. See Iowa Code 4.1
• year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1