Terms Used In California Codes > Elections Code > Division 18 > Chapter 7 - Initiative, Referendum, and Recall

• Acquisition: means the acquisition of a fee interest or any other interest in real property including easements, leases and development rights. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• action: as used in this Title is to be construed, whenever it is necessary so to do, as including a special proceeding of a civil nature. See California Code of Civil Procedure 363
• Action: includes a civil action and a special proceeding of a civil nature. See California Code of Civil Procedure 2016.020
• 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.
• Agency: means the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. See California Labor Code 18.5
• Amusement ride: includes the business of operating bungee jumping services or providing services to facilitate bungee jumping, but does not include slides, playground equipment, coin-operated devices or conveyances which operate directly on the ground or on the surface or pavement directly on the ground or the operation of amusement devices of a permanent nature. See California Labor Code 7901
• Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeals board: means the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. See California Labor Code 6101
• Appeals board: means the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, within the department. See California Labor Code 6302
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
• bait net: means a lampara or round haul type net, the mesh of which is constructed of twine not exceeding Standard No. See California Fish and Game Code 8780
• Bequest: Property gifted by will.
• Board: means the Wildlife Conservation Board. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Buy: includes an offer to buy, purchase, barter, exchange, or trade. See California Fish and Game Code 24
• Bycatch: includes discards. See California Fish and Game Code 90.5
• candidate: includes any officeholder who is subject to a recall election. See California Elections Code 305
• Case law: The law as laid down in cases that have been decided in the decisions of the courts.
• Chambers: A judge's office.
• City: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 18
• Closed season: means that period of time during which the taking of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, or reptiles is prohibited. See California Fish and Game Code 29
• commission: means the California Transportation Commission. See California Government Code 14002.5
• Commission: means the Fish and Game Commission, and "commissioner" means a member of the Fish and Game Commission. See California Fish and Game Code 30
• contestant: means any person initiating an election contest. See California Elections Code 16002
• County: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 17
• County: includes "city and county. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• County: includes city and county. See California Food and Agricultural Code 29
• County: includes "city and county. See California Labor Code 14
• County: includes city and county. See California Fish and Game Code 32
• County office: means the office filled by any county officer. See California Elections Code 313
• Court: means the trial court in which the action is pending, unless otherwise specified. See California Code of Civil Procedure 2016.020
• Day: means calendar day, and "week" means calendar week. See California Fish and Game Code 35
• Decedent: A deceased person.
• Defendant: means that person whose election or nomination is contested or those persons receiving an equal and highest number of votes, other than the contestant, where, in other than primary elections, the body canvassing the returns declares that no one person has received the highest number of votes for the contested office. See California Elections Code 16002
• Delta: means the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Department: means the Department of Water Resources. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Department: means the Department of Industrial Relations. See California Labor Code 6302
• Department: means the Department of Transportation. See California Government Code 14002.5
• Department: means the Department of Human Resources. See California Government Code 19815
• Department: means Department of Industrial Relations. See California Labor Code 19
• Department: means the Department of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 37
• Depose: includes any written statement made under oath or affirmation. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
• Development: includes , but is not limited to the physical improvement of real property including the construction of facilities or structures. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Devise: To gift property by will.
• Director: means the Director of Transportation. See California Government Code 14002.5
• Director: means "State Director of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 21
• Director: means Director of Industrial Relations. See California Labor Code 20
• Director: means the Director of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 39
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• District: means fish and game district. See California Fish and Game Code 41
• Division: means the Division of Occupational Safety and Health. See California Labor Code 6302
• Division: means the Division of Labor Relations. See California Government Code 19815
• Donor: The person who makes a gift.
• Educational institution: means a school district, a community college district, a state university, the University of California, and the State Department of Education special schools. See California Education Code 32220
• Election: means any election including a primary that is provided for under this code. See California Elections Code 318
• Elections official: means any of the following:

  California Elections Code 320

• Elector: means a person who is a United States citizen 18 years of age or older and, except as specified in subdivision (b), is a resident of an election precinct in this state on or before the day of an election. See California Elections Code 321
• Electronic: means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. See California Code of Civil Procedure 2016.020
• Electronically stored information: means information that is stored in an electronic medium. See California Code of Civil Procedure 2016.020
• Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. ^{Source: OCC}
• Employee: means any of the following:

  California Government Code 19878

• Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
• Family Care Leave benefits: means benefits authorized by Section 19878. See California Government Code 19878
• firefighter: shall be deemed to include a member of a fire department or fire service of the state, including the University of California, whether these members are volunteer, partly paid, or fully paid, excepting those whose principal duties are clerical, such as stenographers, telephone operators and other workers not engaged in fire-suppression or rescue operations or the protection or preservation of life or property. See California Government Code 19886
• Fish: means a wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian, or part, spawn, or ovum of any of those animals. See California Fish and Game Code 45
• Fishery: means both of the following:

  California Fish and Game Code 94

• Fund: means State Compensation Insurance Fund. See California Labor Code 6101
• Fund: means the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• General election: means either of the following:

  California Elections Code 324

• Governing board: means the governing board of a school district or community college district, the Trustees of the California State University, and the Regents of the University of California. See California Education Code 32220
• governing board: include a county superintendent of schools. See California Education Code 32390
• Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• 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.
• 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.
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
• injury: as used in this division , includes cancer, including leukemia, that develops or manifests itself during a period in which any member described in subdivision (a) is in the service of the department or unit, if the member demonstrates that he or she was exposed, while in the service of the department or unit, to a known carcinogen as defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or as defined by the director. See California Labor Code 3212.1
• Insurer: includes the State Compensation Insurance Fund and any private company, corporation, mutual association, and reciprocal or interinsurance exchange, authorized under the laws of this state to insure employers against liability for compensation under this part and under Division 4 (commencing with Section 3201), and any employer to whom a certificate of consent to self-insure has been issued. See California Labor Code 6302
• Interpretation: includes , but is not limited to, a visitor serving amenity that educates and communicates the significance and value of natural, historical, and cultural resources in a way that increases the understanding and enjoyment of these resources and that may utilize the expertise of a naturalist or other specialist skilled at educational interpretation. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Juror: A person who is on the jury.
• Kelp: means kelp or other marine aquatic plants and the seeds thereof. See California Fish and Game Code 51
• Local conservation corps: means a program operated by a public agency or nonprofit organization that meets the requirements of Section 14406. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Measure: means any constitutional amendment or other proposition submitted to a popular vote at any election. See California Elections Code 329
• Member of an athletic team: means member of any extramural athletic team engaged in athletic events on or outside the school grounds, maintained or sponsored by the educational institution or a student body organization thereof. See California Education Code 32220
• Mile: means either a statute mile (5,280 feet) or a nautical mile (6,077 feet) depending on the application. See California Fish and Game Code 55
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Net: means any gear made of any kind of twine, thread, string, rope, wire, wood, or other materials used for the gilling, entangling, trapping, or impounding of fish. See California Fish and Game Code 56
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Oath: includes an affirmation or declaration. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board: as used in this part means the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Industrial Relations, State of California. See California Labor Code 7801
• Overfishing: means a rate or level of taking that the best available scientific information, and other relevant information that the commission or department possesses or receives, indicates is not sustainable or that jeopardizes the capacity of a marine fishery to produce the maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis. See California Fish and Game Code 98
• owner: means a person who owns or controls or has the duty to control the operation of an amusement ride. See California Labor Code 7901
• owner: means a person who owns or controls or has the duty to control the operation of an amusement ride. See California Labor Code 7921
• partnership: means the School/Law Enforcement Partnership established by this section. See California Education Code 32262
• Permanent amusement ride: includes the business of operating bungee jumping services or providing services to facilitate bungee jumping, but does not include slides, playground equipment, coin-operated devices or conveyances that operate directly on the ground or on a surface or pavement directly on the ground. See California Labor Code 7921
• Permit: means a document issued by the division which indicates that an inspection of the ride has been performed pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the division. See California Labor Code 7901
• Person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Person: means any person, association, organization, partnership, business trust, limited liability company, or corporation. See California Labor Code 18
• Person: means any natural person or any partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, or other type of association. See California Fish and Game Code 67
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Precinct: means a geographical area within a county that is made up of voters and is formed pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12200) of Division 12. See California Elections Code 338.6
• precinct board: means the board appointed by the elections official to serve at a vote center. See California Elections Code 339
• Preservation: means rehabilitation, stabilization, restoration, development, and reconstruction, or any combination of those activities. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Pretrial conference: A meeting of the judge and lawyers to discuss which matters should be presented to the jury, to review evidence and witnesses, to set a timetable, and to discuss the settlement of the case.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Process: signifies a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Protection: means those actions necessary to prevent harm or damage to persons, property or natural resources or those actions necessary to allow the continued use and enjoyment of property or natural resources and includes acquisition, development, restoration, preservation and interpretation. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
• Purchase: means "buy" as defined in Section 24. See California Fish and Game Code 68
• Qualified safety inspector: means either of the following:

  California Labor Code 7921

• 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).
• Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Restoration: means the improvement of physical structures or facilities and, in the case of natural systems and landscape features includes, but is not limited to, projects for the control of erosion, the control and elimination of exotic species, prescribed burning, fuel hazard reduction, fencing out threats to existing or restored natural resources, road elimination, and other plant and wildlife habitat improvement to increase the natural system value of the property. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Roster: means the official list of voters for an election, which may be in paper or electronic form. See California Elections Code 349.5
• season: means "open season. See California Fish and Game Code 62
• Secretary: means the Secretary of the Resources Agency. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• Secretary: means the Secretary of Transportation. See California Government Code 14002.5
• Secretary: means the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. See California Labor Code 19.5
• Sell: includes offer or possess for sale, barter, exchange, or trade. See California Fish and Game Code 75
• Serious injury or illness: means any injury or illness occurring in a place of employment or in connection with any employment that requires inpatient hospitalization, for other than medical observation or diagnostic testing, or in which an employee suffers an amputation, the loss of an eye, or any serious degree of permanent disfigurement, but does not include any injury or illness or death caused by an accident on a public street or highway, unless the accident occurred in a construction zone. See California Labor Code 6302
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Sheriff: includes marshal. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Signature: includes either of the following:

  California Elections Code 354.5

• small school district: means a school district that has fewer than 2,501 units of average daily attendance at the beginning of each fiscal year. See California Education Code 32281
• Software: includes all programs, voting devices, cards, ballot cards or papers, operating manuals or instructions, test procedures, printouts, and other nonmechanical or nonelectrical items necessary to the operation of a voting system. See California Elections Code 355
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Standards board: means the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, within the department. See California Labor Code 6302
• State: includes the District of Columbia and the territories when applied to the different parts of the United States, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Fish and Game Code 83
• State agency: means any agency, department, division, commission, board, bureau, officer, or other authority of the State of California. See California Labor Code 6101
• state agency: includes every state office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, and commission. See California Government Code 11000
• State Board: means the State Water Resources Control Board. See California Public Resources Code 75005
• State Board of Public Health: means "State Department of Health Services" with respect to regulatory functions heretofore performed by the State Board of Public Health or the "Advisory Health Council" with respect to all other functions heretofore performed by the board. See California Health and Safety Code 22
• Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
• Student body organization: means any student organization under supervision of the educational institution or its officers. See California Education Code 32220
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Fish and Game Code 73
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• subscription: includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not write, such signer's or subscriber's name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near the signer's or subscriber's name. See California Health and Safety Code 18
• tactical responses to criminal incidents: means steps taken to safeguard pupils and staff, to secure the affected school premises, and to apprehend the criminal perpetrator or perpetrators. See California Education Code 32281
• Take: means hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill. See California Fish and Game Code 86
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
• trustees: means the Trustees of the California State University, created under Section 66600. See California Education Code 89000
• two-way communication devices: include , but are not necessarily limited to, telephones, intercoms, walkie-talkies, or portable radios. See California Education Code 32226
• Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
• User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• Veto: The procedure established under the Constitution by which the President/Governor refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President/Governor returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The President/Governor usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. In Congress, the veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.
• Violation: includes a failure to comply with any requirement of the code. See California Labor Code 22
• Voir dire: The process by which judges and lawyers select a petit jury from among those eligible to serve, by questioning them to determine knowledge of the facts of the case and a willingness to decide the case only on the evidence presented in court. "Voir dire" is a phrase meaning "to speak the truth."
• Voter: means any elector who is registered under this code. See California Elections Code 359
• Voter-nominated office: means a congressional or state elective office for which a candidate may choose to have his or her party preference or lack of party preference indicated upon the ballot. See California Elections Code 359.5
• Writ: means an order or precept in writing, issued in the name of the people, or of a court or judicial officer. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17