Terms Used In Kansas Statutes > Chapter 46 > Article 10 - Investigating Committees; Compulsory Process

• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Concurrent resolution: A legislative measure, designated "S. Con. Res." and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both chambers, to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses, such as a concurrent budget resolution, or to create a temporary joint committee. Concurrent resolutions are not submitted to the President/Governor and thus do not have the force of law.
• Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
• Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
• Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
• investigating committee: means any of the following:

  (a) A standing, special or select committee of either the house of representatives or the senate, a joint committee of both houses of the legislature, or an authorized subcommittee of any such committee; or

  (b) The legislative coordinating council, the legislative budget committee, the joint committee on special claims against the state, the joint committee on administrative rules and regulations, the legislative post audit committee, any special or select committee appointed by the legislative coordinating council, or any authorized subcommittee of any such committee or said council; or

  (c) Any committee, commission or board created by the legislature by concurrent resolution or enactment when, as one or all of its duties, it is to perform an inquiry, study or investigation for the legislature, except that an advisory committee is not an investigating committee; or

  (d) Any committee heretofore or hereafter created by law or resolution of either house of the legislature or by concurrent resolution, when all of the members of such committee, who are authorized to vote on actions of the committee, are legislators. See Kansas Statutes 46-1001

• Joint 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.
• Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Oath: includes an affirmation in all cases where an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in similar cases "swear" includes affirm. See Kansas Statutes 77-201
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Kansas Statutes 77-201
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
• 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.