§ 14-177 Crime against nature
§ 14-178 Incest
§ 14-183 Bigamy
§ 14-184 Fornication and adultery
§ 14-186 Opposite sexes occupying same bedroom at hotel for immoral purposes; falsely registering as husband and wife
§ 14-188 Certain evidence relative to keeping disorderly houses admissible; keepers of such houses defined; punishment
§ 14-190.1 Obscene literature and exhibitions
§ 14-190.4 Coercing acceptance of obscene articles or publications
§ 14-190.5 Preparation of obscene photographs, slides and motion pictures
§ 14-190.5A Disclosure of private images; civil action
§ 14-190.6 Employing or permitting minor to assist in offense under Article
§ 14-190.7 Dissemination to minors under the age of 16 years
§ 14-190.8 Dissemination to minors under the age of 13 years
§ 14-190.9 Indecent exposure
§ 14-190.13 Definitions for certain offenses concerning minors
§ 14-190.14 Displaying material harmful to minors
§ 14-190.15 Disseminating harmful material to minors; exhibiting harmful performances to minors
§ 14-190.16 First degree sexual exploitation of a minor
§ 14-190.17 Second degree sexual exploitation of a minor
§ 14-190.17A Third degree sexual exploitation of a minor
§ 14-190.20 Warrants for obscenity offenses
§ 14-196 Using profane, indecent or threatening language to any person over telephone; annoying or harassing by repeated telephoning or making false statements over telephone
§ 14-196.3 Cyberstalking
§ 14-199 Obstructing way to places of public worship
§ 14-202 Secretly peeping into room occupied by another person
§ 14-202.1 Taking indecent liberties with children
§ 14-202.2 Indecent liberties between children
§ 14-202.3 Solicitation of child by computer or certain other electronic devices to commit an unlawful sex act
§ 14-202.4 Taking indecent liberties with a student
§ 14-202.5 Ban online conduct by high-risk sex offenders that endangers children
§ 14-202.5A Liability of commercial social networking sites
§ 14-202.6 Ban on name changes by sex offenders
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Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes > Chapter 14 > Article 26 - Offenses Against Public Morality and Decency

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Business with which associated: As defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 120-85.1
  • Committee substitute: Short for committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  • 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.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • 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.
  • Confidential information: As defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 120-85.1
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • 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.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • 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:
  • Document: means all records, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material regardless of physical form or characteristics. See North Carolina General Statutes 120-129
  • Economic interest: As defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 120-85.1
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
  • 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.
  • Floor amendment: An amendment offered by an individual legisator from the floor during consideration of a bill or other measure, in contrast to a committee amendment.
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • 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.
  • Immediate family: As defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 120-85.1
  • in writing: may be construed to include printing, engraving, lithographing, and any other mode of representing words and letters: Provided, that in all cases where a written signature is required by law, the same shall be in a proper handwriting, or in a proper mark. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • 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 meeting: An occasion, often ceremonial, when the House and Senate each adopt a unanimous consent agreement
  • Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Legislative commission: means any commission or committee which the Legislative Services Commission is directed or authorized to staff by law or resolution and which it does, in fact, staff. See North Carolina General Statutes 120-129
  • Legislative employee: means employees and officers of the General Assembly, consultants and counsel to members and committees of either house of the General Assembly or of legislative commissions who are paid by State funds, students at an accredited law school while in an externship program at the General Assembly approved by the Legislative Services Commission, and employees of the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; but does not mean legislators and members of the Council of State. See North Carolina General Statutes 120-129
  • Legislator: As defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 120-85.1
  • Legislator: means a member-elect, member-designate, or member of the North Carolina Senate or House of Representatives. See North Carolina General Statutes 120-129
  • 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.
  • Majority leader: see Floor Leaders
  • Minority leader: See Floor Leaders
  • month: shall be construed to mean a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed; and the word "year" a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed; and the word "year" alone shall be equivalent to the expression "year of our Lord. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • oath: shall be construed to include "affirmation" in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in like cases the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • 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.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • property: shall include all property, both real and personal. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Receives: "Receives" or "receiving" means acquiring possession or control or accepting a financial transaction card as security for a loan. See North Carolina General Statutes 14-113.8
  • 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.
  • sexual conduct: means :