As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Act” means a bodily movement, whether voluntary or involuntary, and includes speech;
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 39-16-401

  • Government: means the state or any political subdivision of the state, and includes any branch or agency of the state, a county, municipality or other political subdivision. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Law: means the constitution or a statute of this state or of the United States, a written opinion of a court of record, a municipal ordinance, or a rule authorized by and lawfully adopted under a statute. See Tennessee Code 39-16-401
  • Person: includes the singular and the plural and means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, governmental subdivision or agency, or other organization or other legal entity, or any agent or servant thereof. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Public servant: means a person elected, selected, appointed, employed, or otherwise designated as one (1) of the following even if the public servant has not yet qualified for office or assumed the duties:
    (A) An officer, employee, or agent of government. See Tennessee Code 39-16-401
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(2) “Law” means the constitution or a statute of this state or of the United States, a written opinion of a court of record, a municipal ordinance, or a rule authorized by and lawfully adopted under a statute; and
(3) “Public servant” means a person elected, selected, appointed, employed, or otherwise designated as one (1) of the following even if the public servant has not yet qualified for office or assumed the duties:

(A) An officer, employee, or agent of government;
(B) A juror or grand juror;
(C) An arbitrator, referee, or other person who is authorized by law or private written agreement to hear or determine a cause or controversy;
(D) An attorney at law or notary public when participating in performing a governmental function;
(E) A candidate for nomination or election to public office; or
(F) A person who is performing a governmental function under claim of right although not legally qualified to do so.