Terms Used In Virginia Code > Title 4.1 > Subtitle II > Chapter 13 - Prohibited Practices; Procedural Matters

• Advisory agency: means any board, commission, committee or post which does not exercise any sovereign power or duty, but is appointed by a governmental agency or officer or is created by law for the purpose of making studies or recommendations, or advising or consulting with a governmental agency. See Virginia Code 2.2-3101
• Business: means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, trust or foundation, or any other individual or entity carrying on a business or profession, whether or not for profit. See Virginia Code 2.2-3101
• Candidate: means a person who seeks or campaigns for an office of the Commonwealth or one of its governmental units in a general, primary, or special election and who is qualified to have his name placed on the ballot for the office. See Virginia Code 2.2-3101
• Council: means the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council established in § 30-355. See Virginia Code 2.2-3101
• 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.
• Employee: means all persons employed by a governmental or advisory agency, unless otherwise limited by the context of its use. See Virginia Code 2.2-3101
• Governmental agency: means each component part of the legislative, executive or judicial branches of state and local government, including each office, department, authority, post, commission, committee, and each institution or board created by law to exercise some regulatory or sovereign power or duty as distinguished from purely advisory powers or duties. See Virginia Code 2.2-3101
• Marijuana: means any part of a plant of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not, its seeds or resin; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds, its resin, or any extract containing one or more cannabinoids. See Virginia Code 4.1-600
• officer: includes members of the judiciary. See Virginia Code 2.2-3101
• Personal interest: means a financial benefit or liability accruing to an officer or employee or to a member of his immediate family. See Virginia Code 2.2-3101
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• real estate: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights and appurtenances thereto and interests therein, other than a chattel interest. See Virginia Code 1-219
• Transaction: means any matter considered by any governmental or advisory agency, whether in a committee, subcommittee, or other entity of that agency or before the agency itself, on which official action is taken or contemplated. See Virginia Code 2.2-3101
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.