Terms Used In Texas Special District Local Laws Code Chapter 3981 - Cole Ranch Improvement District No. 1 of Denton County, Texas

• 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.
• Committee membership: Legislators are assigned to specific committees by their party. Seniority, regional balance, and political philosophy are the most prominent factors in the committee assignment process.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• County election precinct: means an election precinct established under § 42. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• 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.
• Justice: when applied to a magistrate, means justice of the peace. See Texas Government Code 312.011
• 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.
• Local canvass: means the canvass of the precinct election returns. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• 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.
• Population: means the population shown by the most recent federal decennial census. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• 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 election: means an election held by a political party under Chapter 172 to select its nominees for public office, and, unless the context indicates otherwise, the term includes a presidential primary election. See Texas Election Code 1.005
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• Signed: includes any symbol executed or adopted by a person with present intention to authenticate a writing. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• United States: includes a department, bureau, or other agency of the United States of America. See Texas Government Code 311.005
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
• Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005