Terms Used In California Codes > Government Code > Title 1 > Division 1 - SOVEREIGNTY AND PEOPLE OF THE STATE

• Acquisition: means the acquisition of a fee interest or any other interest, including easements, leases, and development rights. See California Water Code 79505
• Act: means the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority Act. See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• Action: includes a civil action and a criminal action. See California Evidence Code 105
• 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.
• Affinity: signifies the connection existing in consequence of marriage, between each of the married persons and the blood relatives of the other when applied to the marriage relation. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Agent: means a person who was an officer or director of a corporation, as defined in subdivision (e), at the time the fraudulent acts occurred, was named in a final criminal restitution order in connection with the fraudulent acts, and was acting in the person's capacity as the corporation's officer or director when committing the fraudulent acts. See California Corporations Code 2281
• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• 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.
• 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.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Application: means a request for payment from the fund submitted to the Secretary of State pursuant to this chapter. See California Corporations Code 2281
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
• Authority: means the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority established pursuant to Section 3320 and any board, commission, department, or officer succeeding to the functions thereof, or to whom the powers conferred upon the authority by this division shall be given by law. See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. ^{Source: OCC}
• Board: means the governing board of the San Joaquin River Conservancy. See California Public Resources Code 32504
• Board: means the governing board of the Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy. See California Public Resources Code 32553
• Board: means the Board of Directors of the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority. See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• Board: means the State Water Resources Control Board. See California Water Code 79505
• Board: as used in this article , means the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System. See California Government Code 31882
• Bond purchase agreement: means a contractual agreement executed between the authority and an underwriter or underwriters and, where appropriate, a participating party, whereby the authority agrees to sell bonds issued pursuant to this division. See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• Bonds: means bonds, including structured, senior, and subordinated bonds or other securities. See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• book: signifies the recordation of an arrest in official police records, and the taking by the police of fingerprints and photographs of the person arrested, or any of these acts following an arrest. See California Penal Code 7
• Caucus: From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the legislature that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.
• child: means a member's child who, when the member dies, is both dependent on the member and unmarried, as well as any of the following:

  California Government Code 31855.3

• City: includes "city and county" and "incorporated town" but does not include "unincorporated town" or "village. See California Government Code 20
• City: includes city and county. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 15
• City: includes "city and county" and "incorporated town. See California Streets and Highways Code 15
• Claimant: means an aggrieved person who resides in the state at the time of the fraud and who submits an application pursuant to this chapter. See California Corporations Code 2281
• Classification: means that each position in the classified service shall have a designated title, a regular minimum number of assigned hours per day, days per week, and months per year, a specific statement of the duties required to be performed by the employees in each such position, and the regular monthly salary ranges for each such position. See California Education Code 45101
• client: means a person who, directly or through an authorized representative, consults a lawyer for the purpose of retaining the lawyer or securing legal service or advice from him in his professional capacity, and includes an incompetent (a) who himself so consults the lawyer or (b) whose guardian or conservator so consults the lawyer in behalf of the incompetent. See California Evidence Code 951
• commission: means the California Transportation Commission. See California Government Code 14002.5
• Commission: means the Public Utilities Commission created by §. See California Public Utilities Code 20
• Commissioner: means any county agricultural commissioner. See California Food and Agricultural Code 26
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• compensation: means the remuneration paid out of funds controlled by the employer in payment for the member's services performed during normal working hours or for time during which the member is excused from work because of any of the following:

  California Government Code 20630

• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Conduct: includes all active and passive behavior, both verbal and nonverbal. See California Evidence Code 125
• Conservancy: means the San Joaquin River Conservancy. See California Public Resources Code 32504
• Conservancy: means the Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy. See California Public Resources Code 32553
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Corporation: means a domestic corporation as defined by Section 162 or 2509 or a foreign corporation that is qualified to transact business in California pursuant to Section 2105. See California Corporations Code 2281
• Council of governments: means a single or multicounty council created by a joint powers agreement pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 1 of Title 1. See California Government Code 65582
• County: includes "city and county. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• County: includes "city and county. See California Corporations Code 14
• County: includes city and county. See California Food and Agricultural Code 29
• County: includes city and county. See California Government Code 19
• County: includes city and county. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 14
• county: includes "city and county". See California Penal Code 7
• County: includes "city and county. See California Public Resources Code 14
• County: includes "city and county. See California Streets and Highways Code 14
• county psychiatric hospital: means the hospital, ward, or facility provided by the county pursuant to the provisions of §. See California Government Code 854.3
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• department: means the Department of Veterans Affairs. See California Military and Veterans Code 690
• Department: means the Department of Water Resources. See California Water Code 79505
• Department: means the Department of Housing and Community Development. See California Government Code 65582
• Department: means the Department of Transportation. See California Government Code 14002.5
• Department: as used in this article , means the Department of Transportation as to work within its jurisdiction, the Department of Water Resources as to work within its jurisdiction, the Department of Boating and Waterways as to any project under the jurisdiction of that department pursuant to Article 2. See California Government Code 14155
• Department: means the Department of Food and Agriculture. See California Food and Agricultural Code 32
• department: whenever used in this code , unless the context otherwise requires, means the State Department of Education. See California Education Code 89
• developmental services facility: means any facility or place where a public employee provides services and supports to individuals transitioning from a developmental center to the community or to individuals with developmental disabilities at risk of admission to a developmental center, an institution for mental disease, an out-of-state placement, a general acute care hospital, or an acute psychiatric hospital. See California Government Code 854.1
• Director: means the Director of Transportation. See California Government Code 14002.5
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• electrified fence: means any fence and appurtenant devices, including, but not limited to, fences and devices used in animal control, and including, but not limited to, a fence consisting of a single strand of wire supported by posts or other fixtures, which has an electrical charge or is connected to a source of electrical current and which is so designed or placed that a person or animal coming into contact with the conductive element of the fence receives an electrical shock. See California Food and Agricultural Code 17151
• element: means the housing element of the community's general plan, as required pursuant to this article and subdivision (c) of Section 65302. See California Government Code 65582
• Enterprise: means a revenue-producing improvement, building, system, plant, works, facilities, or undertaking used for or useful for the generation or production of electric energy for lighting, heating, and power for public or private uses. See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• 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.
• environment: means the aggregate of all factors that influence the conditions of life in or about the state or within any portion thereof, and which are affected by the use of pesticides or related materials within the state. See California Food and Agricultural Code 14101
• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Evidence: means testimony, writings, material objects, or other things presented to the senses that are offered to prove the existence or nonexistence of a fact. See California Evidence Code 140
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• executed: when used with respect to the documents filed pursuant to this code or pursuant to regulations adopted under this code, and presented to the Secretary of State, include a document bearing a signature under subdivision (a). See California Corporations Code 17.1
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• expert: means a physician and surgeon, including a psychiatrist, or any person described by subdivision (b), (c), or (e) of Section 1010. See California Evidence Code 240
• 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.
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Final judgment: means a judgment, arbitration award, or criminal restitution order for which appeals have been exhausted or for which the period for appeal has expired, enforcement of which is not barred by the order of any court or by any statutory provision, which has not been nullified or rendered void by any court order or statutory provision, and for which the claimant has not otherwise been fully reimbursed. See California Corporations Code 2281
• firearm: includes the frame or receiver of the weapon, including both a completed frame or receiver, or a firearm precursor part:

  California Penal Code 16520

• Fireman: as used in this article , means any employee in a position designated as a fireman's position by the board. See California Government Code 31887
• Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Fund: means the Baldwin Hills Conservancy and Urban Watersheds Fund created pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 32574. See California Public Resources Code 32553
• Fund: means the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority Fund. See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• Fund: means the Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Fund of 2002 created pursuant to Section 79510. See California Water Code 79505
• Fund: means the Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund created by Section 2280. See California Corporations Code 2281
• handgun: means any pistol, revolver, or firearm capable of being concealed upon the person. See California Penal Code 16640
• hearing: means the hearing at which a question under this code arises, and not some earlier or later hearing. See California Evidence Code 145
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Instrument: means a will, a document establishing or modifying a trust, a deed, or any other writing that designates a beneficiary or makes a donative transfer of property. See California Probate Code 45
• Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. ^{Source: OCC}
• Judgment debtor: means a corporation or agent against which a judgment, arbitration award, or criminal restitution order has been entered for conduct constituting intentional fraud. See California Corporations Code 2281
• jurisdiction: means a city, city and county, or county. See California Government Code 65582
• Juror: A person who is on the jury.
• Jury instructions: A judge's directions to the jury before it begins deliberations regarding the factual questions it must answer and the legal rules that it must apply. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• knowingly: import s only a knowledge that the facts exist which bring the act or omission within the provisions of this code. See California Penal Code 7
• Law: includes constitutional, statutory, and decisional law. See California Evidence Code 160
• Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
• lawyer: means a person authorized, or reasonably believed by the client to be authorized, to practice law in any state or nation. See California Evidence Code 950
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• license: shall include a permit or a certificate issued by a state agency. See California Penal Code 23
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Life estate: A property interest limited in duration to the life of the individual holding the interest (life tenant).
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Matching funds: means funds made available by nonstate sources, which may include, but are not limited to, donated services from nonstate sources. See California Water Code 79505.5
• Member agencies: means the City of Fresno and Counties of Fresno and Madera. See California Public Resources Code 32504
• mental institution: means a state hospital for the care and treatment of persons with mental health disorders or intellectual disabilities, the California Rehabilitation Center referred to in §. See California Government Code 854.2
• Mistrial: An invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again from the selection of the jury.
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• National Bank: A bank that is subject to the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. A national bank can be recognized because it must have "national" or "national association" in its name. ^{Source: OCC}
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Nonprofit organization: means an exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. See California Public Resources Code 32504
• Nonprofit organization: means an exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. See California Public Resources Code 32553
• Notice: includes all papers and orders required to be served in any proceedings before any court, board, or officer, or when required by law to be served independently of such proceeding. See California Government Code 26660
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Oath: includes affirmation. See California Government Code 15
• Oath: includes affirmation. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 17
• Open-end credit: A credit agreement (typically a credit card) that allows a customer to borrow against a preapproved credit line when purchasing goods and services. The borrower is only billed for the amount that is actually borrowed plus any interest due. (Also called a charge account or revolving credit.) ^{Source: OCC}
• parent: means the father or mother of the deceased member who at the time of the death of such member was not less than 62 years of age and was receiving not less than one-half of his or her support from the member, and who has not remarried since the member's death. See California Government Code 31855.4
• Parkway: means the San Joaquin River Parkway, as described in Section 32510. See California Public Resources Code 32504
• Participating party: means either of the following:

  California Public Utilities Code 3302

• Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
• peace officer: signify any one of the officers mentioned in Chapter 4. See California Penal Code 7
• Pension board: as used in this article , means the board of retirement. See California Government Code 31884
• Person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Corporations Code 18
• Person: includes a natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or public entity. See California Evidence Code 175
• Person: means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, or any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not. See California Food and Agricultural Code 38
• Person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, or company. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 19
• person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Penal Code 7
• Person: means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, organization, limited liability company, or business trust. See California Streets and Highways Code 19
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• Petition: includes any form of pleading brought pursuant to Section 65751, whether it is a petition, complaint, cross-complaint, complaint in intervention, or any other form. See California Government Code 65750
• Petitioner: includes a petitioner, plaintiff, cross-complainant, or intervenor who files an action of any kind pursuant to Section 65751. See California Government Code 65750
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• 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.
• Policeman: as used in this article includes sheriffs, undersheriffs, deputy sheriffs and any other employee of a county in a position designated as a policeman's position by the board. See California Government Code 31886
• Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
• 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.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Probation officers: Screen applicants for pretrial release and monitor convicted offenders released under court supervision.
• Process: includes all writs, warrants, summons, and orders of courts of justice, or judicial officers. See California Government Code 26660
• Process: signifies a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Process: includes a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings of either a civil or criminal nature. See California Government Code 22
• Program: means a program that provides financial assistance, as provided in Article 6 (commencing with Section 3365). See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• Project: means plants, facilities, equipment, appliances, structures, expansions, and improvements within the state that serve the purposes of this division as approved by the authority, and all activities and expenses necessary to initiate and complete those projects described in Article 5 (commencing with Section 3350) and Article 7 (commencing with Section 3368), of Chapter 3. See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• property: includes property real and personal. See California Civil Code 14
• Property: includes both real and personal property. See California Evidence Code 185
• Property: means anything that may be the subject of ownership and includes both real and personal property and any interest therein. See California Probate Code 62
• public agency: includes the federal government or any federal department or agency, this state, any other state or any state department or agency, a county, city, public corporation, or public district of this state or any other state. See California Government Code 31895
• Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
• Public entity: includes a nation, state, county, city and county, city, district, public authority, public agency, or any other political subdivision or public corporation, whether foreign or domestic. See California Evidence Code 200
• Qualified representative of the commissioner: means a deputy commissioner or inspector who holds an appropriate certificate of qualification issued by the director as provided in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2101) of Division 2 of this code. See California Food and Agricultural Code 39
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Real property: includes lands, tenements, and hereditaments. See California Evidence Code 205
• Recourse: An arrangement in which a bank retains, in form or in substance, any credit risk directly or indirectly associated with an asset it has sold (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) that exceeds a pro rata share of the bank's claim on the asset. If a bank has no claim on an asset it has sold, then the retention of any credit risk is recourse. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• 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.
• Secretary: means the Secretary of Transportation. See California Government Code 14002.5
• Secretary: means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. See California Food and Agricultural Code 35
• Sell: includes offer for sale, expose for sale, possess for sale, exchange, barter, or trade. See California Food and Agricultural Code 44
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• Sheriff: includes marshal. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Signature: includes mark when the signer cannot write, such signer's name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near the signer's name. See California Corporations Code 17
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Corporations Code 12.2
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Military and Veterans Code 19
• State: means the State of California. See California Public Utilities Code 3302
• 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 Evidence Code 220
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 20
• state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Penal Code 7
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Water Code 18
• State: includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession subject to the legislative authority of the United States. See California Probate Code 74
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Education Code 77
• state agency: shall include any state board, commission, bureau, or division created pursuant to the provisions of the Business and Professions Code, the Education Code, or the Chiropractic Initiative Act to license and regulate individuals who engage in certain businesses and professions. See California Penal Code 23
• Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Food and Agricultural Code 49
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Public Utilities Code 10
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Water Code 10
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Supportive housing: means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population, and that is linked to an onsite or offsite service that assists the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community. See California Government Code 65582
• Territory: means the land in the Baldwin Hills, southern Ballona Creek Watershed, and Upper Dominguez Channel area that is under the jurisdiction of the conservancy. See California Public Resources Code 32553
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• 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.
• total benefits: means the retirement allowance or other benefit payable to any beneficiary pursuant to the provisions of this chapter plus any other monetary payments due to the same beneficiary from any public agency. See California Government Code 31895.5
• Town: includes "unincorporated town" and "village. See California Government Code 21
• 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.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Trial jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
• Trust: includes the following:

  California Probate Code 82

• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• Upper Dominguez Channel: means an approximately 33-square-mile portion of the area of land with the hydrologic unit code of 180701060101 including the Laguna Dominguez Trail, a one-mile long portion of the flood protection channel that drains the Los Angeles basin. See California Public Resources Code 32553
• Variable Rate: Having a "variable" rate means that the APR changes from time to time based on fluctuations in an external rate, normally the Prime Rate. This external rate is known as the "index." If the index changes, the variable rate normally changes. Also see Fixed Rate.
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• 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."
• war: shall mean : (a) whenever Congress has declared war and peace has not been formally restored. See California Military and Veterans Code 18
• Wetlands: means lands that may be covered periodically or permanently with shallow water and include saltwater marshes, freshwater marshes, open or closed brackish water marshes, swamps, mudflats, fens, and vernal pools. See California Water Code 79505
• Will: includes codicil. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
• Writing: includes printing and typewriting. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Writing: means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, photocopying, transmitting by electronic mail or facsimile, and every other means of recording upon any tangible thing, any form of communication or representation, including letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combinations thereof, and any record thereby created, regardless of the manner in which the record has been stored. See California Evidence Code 250