Terms Used In U.S. Code > Title 31 > Subtitle I > Chapter 1 - Definitions

• 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.
• officer: includes any person authorized by law to perform the duties of the office. See 1 USC 1
• port: means any place to which ships may resort for shelter or to load or unload passengers or goods, or to obtain fuel, water, or supplies. See 47 USC 153
• safety convention: means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in force and the regulations referred to therein. See 47 USC 153
• station: means a station equipped to engage in radio communication or radio transmission of energy. See 47 USC 153
• United States: means the several States and Territories, the District of Columbia, and the possessions of the United States, but does not include the Canal Zone. See 47 USC 153