Definitions: The following definitions apply in this Article: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.Duplication: If a business or facility is currently shown on another official highway guide sign, such as a logo sign or supplemental guide sign, on the same approach to an intersection where a TODS panel for that business or facility would be located, the business or facility may elect to keep the existing highway guide sign or have it removed and participate in the TODS program. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-140.15Earnings: shall mean all income for personal services rendered or otherwise receivable, including, but not limited to, salaries and wages, fees, commissions, royalties, awards and other similar items and self-employment; in all cases of doubt, the Board of Trustees shall determine what are "earnings". See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Employee: shall mean all full-time employees, agents or officers of the State of North Carolina or any of its departments, bureaus and institutions other than educational, whether such employees are elected, appointed or employed: Provided that the term "employee" shall not include any person who is a member of the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, any member of the General Assembly or any part-time or temporary employee. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1Employee: shall mean any employee as the term is defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Employer: shall mean the State of North Carolina, the county board of education, the city board of education, the State Board of Education, the board of trustees of the University of North Carolina, the board of trustees of other institutions and agencies supported and under the control of the State, or any other agency of and within the State by which a teacher or other employee is paid. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1Employer: shall mean any employer as the term is defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Entitlement: 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. CourtsErect: means to construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, attach, create, paint, draw, or in any other way bring into being or establish. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-128Evidence: 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.facility: means a tourist-oriented facility. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-140.15Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.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: OCCFee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.Filing: when used in reference to an application for retirement shall mean the receipt of an acceptable application on a form provided by the Retirement System. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1Fiscal 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.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 12-3Foreclosure: 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: OCCFraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.Frontage road: means a way, road or street which is auxiliary to and located on the side of another highway, road or street for service to abutting property and adjacent areas and for the control of access to such other highway, road or street. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-89.49Garnishment: 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 debtorGift: 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.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 12-3Interface: means a relationship between streams of traffic that efficiently and safely maximizes the mobility of people and goods within and through urbanized areas and minimizes transportation-related fuel consumption and air pollution. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-200Internal Revenue Code: means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-150Interstate system: means that portion of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways located within the State, as officially designated, or as may hereafter be so designated, by the Department of Transportation, or other appropriate authorities and are also so designated by interstate numbers. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-128Interstate system: means that portion of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways located within the State, as now officially designated, or as may hereafter be so designated as interstate system by the Department of Transportation, or other appropriate authorities. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-143Joint 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.junk: shall mean old or scrap copper, brass, rope,? rags, batteries, paper, trash, rubber, debris, waste, or junked, dismantled or wrecked automobiles, or parts thereof, iron, steel, and other old or scrap ferrous or nonferrous material. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-143junkyard: shall mean an establishment or place of business which is maintained, operated, or used for storing, keeping, buying, or selling junk, or for maintenance or operation of an automobile graveyard, and the term shall include garbage dumps and sanitary fills. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-143Jurisdiction: (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: OCCLiabilities: 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.Life estate: A property interest limited in duration to the life of the individual holding the interest (life tenant).Limitation: The Department shall not install TODS for a business or facility if the signs would be required at intersections where, due to the number of conflicting locations of other highway signs or traffic control devices or other physical or topographical features of the roadside, their presence would be impractical or unfeasible or result in an unsafe or hazardous condition. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-140.15Lineal descendant: Direct descendant of the same ancestors.Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.Medical Board: shall mean the board of physicians as provided in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Member: shall mean any teacher or State employee included in the membership of the System as provided in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1Member: shall mean any member as the term is defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Membership service: shall mean any service as defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101month: 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 12-3Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.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.Motorist services directional signs: means signs, displays, and devices giving directional information about goods and services in the interest of the traveling public, including but not limited to:
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.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.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.Primary system: means that portion of connected main highways, as now officially designated, or as may hereafter be so designated as primary system by the Department of Transportation or other appropriate authorities. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-143Primary systems: means the federal-aid primary system in existence on June 1, 1991, and any highway which is not on that system but which is on the National Highway System. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-128Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.Probate: Proving a willProbation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.profit: means the excess revenue over expenditures prior to the expenditure of the amount which may be optionally made available for employees to be placed in trust by the State and its political subdivisions on behalf of the employees and officials covered by this Article. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-90Program: The Department of Transportation shall administer a tourist-oriented directional signs (TODS) program. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-140.15property: shall include all property, both real and personal. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.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 school: shall mean any day school conducted within the State under the authority and supervision of a duly elected or appointed city or county school board, and any educational institution supported by and under the control of the State. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1Qualified Excess Benefit Arrangement: means the qualified excess benefit arrangement under section 415(m) of the Internal Revenue Code established under this Article. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-150Quorum: 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.receiving: means acquiring possession or control or accepting a financial transaction card as security for a loan. See North Carolina General Statutes 14-113.8Regional travel demand model: means a model of a region, defined in the model, that is approved by the Department and each Metropolitan Planning Organization whose boundaries include any part of the region and that uses socioeconomic data and projections to predict demands on a transportation network. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-200Remainder: 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.Retirement: shall mean the withdrawal from active service with a retirement allowance granted under the provisions of Article 1 of this Chapter. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Retirement allowance: shall mean the sum of the "annuity and the pensions" or any optional benefit payable in lieu thereof. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1Retirement System: shall mean the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System of North Carolina as defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1Retirement System: shall mean the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System of North Carolina as defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Retirement System: means the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-150Rural Transportation Planning Organization: means a voluntary organization of local elected officials or their designees and representatives of local transportation systems formed by a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Transportation to work cooperatively with the Department to plan rural transportation systems and to advise the Department on rural transportation policy. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-210seal: shall be construed to include an impression of such official seal, made upon the paper alone, as well as an impression made by means of a wafer or of wax affixed thereto. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3Service: shall mean service as a teacher or State employee as described in subdivision (10) or (25) of this section. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1Service: shall mean service as a teacher or employee as defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.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.state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3State: shall mean the State of North Carolina. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101State law: means a State constitutional provision or statute, or an ordinance, rule or regulation enacted or adopted by a State agency or political subdivision of a State pursuant to a State Constitution or statute. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-128Statute: A law passed by a legislature.Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.Teacher: shall mean any teacher as the term is defined in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.TODS: Tourist-oriented directional signs (TODS) are guide signs that display the business identification of and directional information for tourist-oriented businesses and tourist-oriented facilities or for classes of businesses or facilities that are tourist-oriented. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-140.15Tort: 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.Tourist-oriented business: A business, the substantial portion of whose products or services is of significant interest to tourists. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-140.15Tourist-oriented facility: A business, service, or activity facility that derives a major portion of income or visitors during the normal business season from road users not residing in the immediate area of the facility. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-140.15Transcript: 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.Trial Rehabilitation: shall mean a return to service in any capacity, if the return occurs within the waiting period as provided in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-101Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCCTrustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.United States: shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3Variable 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.Visible: means capable of being seen (whether or not legible) without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-128Visible: means capable of being seen without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity. See North Carolina General Statutes 136-143