Terms Used In Oregon Statutes > Chapter 455 > Administration > Municipal Regulation

• 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.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• City: includes any incorporated village or town. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• County court: includes board of county commissioners. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Department: means the Department of Consumer and Business Services. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• Director: means the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• 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.
• Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• local government: means all cities, counties and local service districts located in this state, and all administrative subdivisions of those cities, counties and local service districts. See Oregon Statutes 174.116
• Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code: means the adopted specialty code that, subject to section 2, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019, prescribes standards for the construction of residential dwellings that are three stories or less above grade and have an exterior door for each dwelling unit, but are not facilities or homes described in ORS § 443. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• Municipality: means a city, county or other unit of local government otherwise authorized by law to administer a building code. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• public body: means state government bodies, local government bodies and special government bodies. See Oregon Statutes 174.109
• Small Home Specialty Code: means the specialty code adopted under section 2, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• State building code: means the combined specialty codes. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• 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.
• United States: includes territories, outlying possessions and the District of Columbia. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.