Article 1 General Provisions
Article 5 Departments Of State Government
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Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes > 20 ILCS 5 - Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. (General Provisions and Departments of State Government)

  • Acquittal:
    1. Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
    2. A verdict of "not guilty."
     
  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • 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.
  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Applicable Law: means any provision of this Code or any other provision of law authorizing municipalities to issue Bonds. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-4.1-2
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Aquaculture: means the controlled propagation, growth and harvest of aquatic organisms, including but not limited to fish, shellfish, mollusks, crustaceans, algae and other aquatic plants, by an aquaculturist. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
  • Aquatic products: means any aquatic plants and animals or their by-products that are produced, grown, managed, harvested and marketed on an annual, semi-annual, biennial or short-term basis, in permitted aquaculture facilities. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
  • artificially made or reclaimed land: as used in this Division 123, includes all land which formerly was submerged under the public waters of the state, the title to which is in the state, and which has been artificially made or reclaimed in whole or in part contrary to law. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-123-1
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Assignment agreement: means an agreement between a transferring unit and an issuing entity for the conveyance of all or part of any revenues or taxes received by the transferring unit from a State entity. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Authority: means Aurora Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/10-5
  • Authority: means the Benton Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/15-5
  • Authority: means the Bloomington Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/20-5
  • Authority: means the Bowdre Township Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/30-5
  • Authority: means the Brownstown Park District Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/35-5
  • Authority: means the Carbondale Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/40-5
  • Authority: means the Aledo Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/5-5
  • Authority: means the Centre East Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/50-5
  • Authority: means the Chicago South Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/55-5
  • Authority: means the Collinsville Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/60-5
  • Authority: means the Crystal Lake Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/70-5
  • Authority: means DuPage County Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/80-5
  • Authority: means the Elgin Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/85-5
  • Authority: means the "(Name of Financially Distressed City) Financial Advisory Authority". See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
  • Backdoor Referendum: means the submission of a public question to the voters of a municipality, initiated by a petition of voters or residents or property owners of such municipality, to determine whether an action by the corporate authorities of such municipality shall be effective, adopted or rejected. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-4.1-2
  • Bailiff: a court officer who enforces the rules of behavior in courtrooms.
  • 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.
  • Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Aurora Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/10-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Benton Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/15-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Bloomington Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/20-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Bowdre Township Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/30-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Brownstown Park District Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/35-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Carbondale Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/40-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Aledo Community Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/5-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Centre East Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/50-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Chicago South Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/55-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Collinsville Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/60-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Crystal Lake Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/70-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the DuPage County Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/80-5
  • Board: means the governing and administrative body of the Elgin Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/85-5
  • Bonds: means any instrument evidencing the obligation to pay money authorized or issued by or on behalf of a municipality under Applicable Law including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, bonds, notes, installment or financing contracts, leases, certificates, tax anticipation warrants or notes, vouchers, or any evidence of indebtedness. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-4.1-2
  • Budget: means an annual appropriation ordinance or annual budget as described in Division 2 of Article 8, as from time to time in effect in the financially distressed city. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
  • Case law: The law as laid down in cases that have been decided in the decisions of the courts.
  • 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.
  • Chairperson: means the chairperson of the Authority appointed pursuant to Section 8-12-7. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
  • Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Circuit clerk: means clerk of the circuit court. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.26
  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • Combined waterworks and sewerage system: means and includes a waterworks and sewerage system, which the municipality determines by ordinance to operate in combination. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-139-1
  • Committee membership: Legislators are assigned to specific committees by their party. Seniority, regional balance, and political philosophy are the most prominent factors in the committee assignment process.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Conservation management plan: means a plan approved by the Department of Natural Resources that specifies conservation and management practices, including uses that will be conducted to preserve and restore unimproved land. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/10-405
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Conveyance: means an assignment, sale, transfer, or other conveyance. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
  • 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.
  • Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
  • Court reporter: A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court and produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • deception: means knowingly to:
         (a) Create or confirm another's impression which is false and which the offender does not believe to be true; or
         (b) Fail to correct a false impression which the offender previously has created or confirmed; or
         (c) Prevent another from acquiring information pertinent to the disposition of the property involved; or
         (d) Sell or otherwise transfer or encumber property, failing to disclose a lien, adverse claim, or other legal impediment to the enjoyment of the property, whether such impediment is or is not valid, or is or is not a matter of official record; or
         (e) Promise performance which the offender does not intend to perform or knows will not be performed. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-4
  • decree: is synonymous with the word "judgment". See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.24
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Department: means the Department of Agriculture. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Deposit account: means a designated escrow account established by an issuing entity at a trust company or bank having trust powers for the deposit of transferred receipts under an assignment agreement. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
  • 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.
  • Design-build: means a delivery system that provides responsibility within a single contract for the furnishing of architecture, engineering, land surveying, and related services as required and the labor, materials, equipment, and other construction services for the project. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
  • Design-build entity: means any individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, professional corporation, or other entity that proposes to design and construct any public project under this Division. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) Source: OCC
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Extradition: The formal process of delivering an accused or convicted person from authorities in one state to authorities in another state.
  • 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.
  • Federal Reserve System: The central bank of the United States. The Fed, as it is commonly called, regulates the U.S. monetary and financial system. The Federal Reserve System is composed of a central governmental agency in Washington, D.C. (the Board of Governors) and twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks in major cities throughout the United States. Source: OCC
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Financial Plan: means the financially distressed city's financial plan as developed pursuant to Section 8-12-15, as from time to time in effect. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
  • Financially distressed city: means any municipality which is a home rule unit and which (i) is certified by the Department of Revenue as being in the highest 5% of all home rule municipalities in terms of the aggregate of the rate per cent of all taxes levied pursuant to statute or ordinance upon all taxable property of the municipality and as being in the lowest 5% of all home rule municipalities in terms of per capita tax yield, and (ii) is designated by joint resolution of the General Assembly as a financially distressed city. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
  • Fiscal year: means the fiscal year of the financially distressed city. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
  • Fixed Rate: Having a "fixed" rate means that the APR doesn't change based on fluctuations of some external rate (such as the "Prime Rate"). In other words, a fixed rate is a rate that is not a variable rate. A fixed APR can change over time, in several circumstances:
    • You are late making a payment or commit some other default, triggering an increase to a penalty rate
    • The bank changes the terms of your account and you do not reject the change.
    • The rate expires (if the rate was fixed for only a certain period of time).
  • Forbearance: A means of handling a delinquent loan. A
  • 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
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • General Obligation Bonds: means Bonds of a municipality for the payment of which the municipality is empowered to levy ad valorem property taxes upon all taxable property in the municipality without limitation as to rate or amount. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-4.1-2
  • General Revenue Law of Illinois: or any equivalent expression, when used with reference to revenue, shall be deemed to refer to the Property Tax Code and all existing and future amendments thereto and modifications thereof, and all rules now or hereafter adopted pursuant thereto. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.23
  • governmental property: means funds or other property owned by the State, a unit of local government, or a school district. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-10
  • Grace period: The number of days you'll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. Source: Federal Reserve
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
  • Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. Source: OCC
  • 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.
  • Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
  • Home rule municipality: means a municipality which is a home rule unit as provided in Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Issuing entity: means (i) a corporation, trust or other entity that has been established for the limited purpose of issuing obligations for the benefit of a transferring unit, or (ii) a bank or trust company in its capacity as trustee for obligations issued by such bank or trust company for the benefit of a transferring unit. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
  • Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
  • Joint tenancy: A form of property ownership in which two or more parties hold an undivided interest in the same property that was conveyed under the same instrument at the same time. A joint tenant can sell his (her) interest but not dispose of it by will. Upon the death of a joint tenant, his (her) undivided interest is distributed among the surviving joint tenants.
  • Judgement: The official decision of a court finally determining the respective rights and claims of the parties to a suit.
  • Law clerk: Assist judges with research and drafting of opinions.
  • 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.
  • Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
  • Legatee: A beneficiary of a decedent
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Livestock: means cattle; calves; sheep; swine; ratite birds, including, but not limited to, ostrich and emu; aquatic products obtained through aquaculture; llamas; alpaca; buffalo; elk documented as obtained from a legal source and not from the wild; goats; horses and other equines; or rabbits raised in confinement for human consumption. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
  • Managed land: means unimproved land of 5 contiguous acres or more that is subject to a conservation management plan. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/10-405
  • Markup: The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation.
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Aurora and the Waubonsee Community College District #516 except for those portions lying within counties which have a civic center authority within the corporate limits of such counties. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/10-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Benton in the County of Franklin. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/15-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Bloomington. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/20-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory which lies within the corporate boundaries of the Township of Bowdre, in the County of Douglas. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/30-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the Brownstown Park District in the County of Fayette. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/35-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Carbondale. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/40-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of Mercer Township in the County of Mercer. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/5-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of Niles Township or any municipality a part of which lies within Niles Township. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/50-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Harvey and the Villages of Flossmoor, Lansing, South Holland, Homewood, East Hazel Crest, and Glenwood, together with the territory within the boundaries of other Illinois municipalities that become part of the metropolitan area as provided in Section 55-15. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/55-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Collinsville. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/60-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the municipality of Crystal Lake in the County of McHenry. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/70-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within DuPage County, except for those portions lying within municipalities which have a civic center authority within the corporate limits of such municipalities, and except for those portions within the metropolitan area of the Illinois-Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Civic Center Authority. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/80-5
  • Metropolitan area: means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the City of Elgin. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 200/85-5
  • Minority leader: See Floor Leaders
  • Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
  • 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.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • oath: shall be deemed to include an affirmation, and the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.12
  • Obligations: means bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued by the Illinois Finance Authority in connection with the provision of financial aid to a financially distressed city pursuant to this Division and applicable provisions of the Illinois Finance Authority Act. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-12-3
  • obtain: means :
         (a) In relation to property, to bring about a transfer of interest or possession, whether to the offender or to another, and
         (b) In relation to labor or services, to secure the performance thereof. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-7
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • owner: means a person, other than the offender, who has possession of or any other interest in the property involved, even though such interest or possession is unlawful, and without whose consent the offender has no authority to exert control over the property. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-2
  • Partner organization: means a nonprofit organization that meets standards set forth by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose mission includes supporting small, beginning, limited resource, or socially-disadvantaged farmers within municipalities. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
  • 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.
  • Person under legal disability: means a person 18 years or older who (a) because of mental deterioration or physical incapacity is not fully able to manage his or her person or estate, or (b) is a person with mental illness or is a person with developmental disabilities and who because of his or her mental illness or developmental disability is not fully able to manage his or her person or estate, or (c) because of gambling, idleness, debauchery or excessive use of intoxicants or drugs, so spends or wastes his or her estate as to expose himself or herself or his or her family to want or suffering. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.06
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Petty offense: A federal misdemeanor punishable by six months or less in prison. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • 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.
  • policemen: as used in this Division does not include auxiliary police officers except as provided for in Section 10-2. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-4
  • Poultry: means any domesticated bird intended for human consumption. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • 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.
  • Preliminary hearing: A hearing where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to make the defendant have a trial.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • 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.
  • property: means anything of value. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-1
  • Proposal: means the offer to enter into a design-build contract as submitted by a design-build entity in accordance with this Division. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • public utility: as used in this article shall mean and include all public utilities engaged in the local transportation of passengers for hire, except railroads constituting or used as a part of a trunk line railroad system, and except interurban railroads whose principal business is not that of local transportation of passengers within the city of Chicago. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 20/21-44
  • Qualifying farmer: means an individual or entity that meets at least one of the following:
             (1) is a small or medium sized farmer;
             (2) is a beginning farmer;
             (3) is a limited resource farmer; or
             (4) is a socially-disadvantaged farmer. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Quorum call: A call of the roll to establish whether a quorum is present. If any legislator "suggests the absence of a quorum," the presiding officer must direct the roll to be called.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
  • 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
  • Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
  • 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).
  • Request for proposal: means the document used by the commission to solicit proposals for a design-build contract. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Revenue Bonds: means any Bonds of a municipality other than General Obligation Bonds. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-4.1-2
  • 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.
  • Sewerage system: means and includes any or all of the following: a sewerage treatment plant or plants, collecting, intercepting and outlet sewers, lateral sewers, and drains, including combined and separate storm water and sanitary drains, force mains, conduits, pumping stations, ejector stations and all other appurtenances, extensions and improvements necessary, useful, or convenient for the collection, treatment, and disposal in a sanitary manner of sewage and industrial wastes. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-139-1
  • sewerage system: means and includes any or all of the following: a sewage treatment plant or plants, collecting, intercepting and outlet sewers, force mains, conduits, lateral sewers and extensions, pumping stations, ejector stations, and all other appurtenances, extensions or improvements necessary or useful and convenient for the collection, treatment, and disposal, in a sanitary manner, of sewage and industrial wastes. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-141-1
  • State entity: means the State Comptroller, the State Treasurer, or the Illinois Department of Revenue. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • stolen property: means property over which control has been obtained by theft. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-6
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Supplemental appropriation: Budget authority provided in an appropriations act in addition to regular or continuing appropriations already provided. Supplemental appropriations generally are made to cover emergencies, such as disaster relief, or other needs deemed too urgent to be postponed until the enactment of next year's regular appropriations act.
  • Surviving spouse: means "widow" or "widower" as the case may be. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.32
  • sworn: shall be construed to include the word "affirmed. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.12
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
  • Tenancy in common: A type of property ownership in which two or more individuals have an undivided interest in property. At the death of one tenant in common, his (her) fractional percentage of ownership in the property passes to the decedent
  • threat: means a menace, however communicated, to:
         (a) Inflict physical harm on the person threatened or any other person or on property; or
         (b) Subject any person to physical confinement or restraint; or
         (c) Commit any criminal offense; or
         (d) Accuse any person of a criminal offense; or
         (e) Expose any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule; or
         (f) Harm the credit or business repute of any person; or
         (g) Reveal any information sought to be concealed by the person threatened; or
         (h) Take action as an official against anyone or anything, or withhold official action, or cause such action or withholding; or
         (i) Bring about or continue a strike, boycott or other similar collective action if the property is not demanded or received for the benefit of the group which he purports to represent; or
         (j) Testify or provide information or withhold testimony or information with respect to another's legal claim or defense; or
         (k) Inflict any other harm which would not benefit the offender. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/15-5
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Transferring unit: means a home rule municipality located in the State. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/8-13-5
  • Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC
  • Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC
  • Unimproved land: means woodlands, prairie, wetlands, or other vacant and undeveloped land that is not used for any residential or commercial purpose that materially disturbs the land. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/10-405
  • Units of local government: has the meaning established in Section 1 of Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.28
  • Urban agricultural area: means an area defined by a municipality and entirely within that municipality's boundaries within which one or more qualifying farmers are processing, growing, raising, or otherwise producing locally-grown agricultural products. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-15.4-5
  • 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.
  • Usury: Charging an illegally high interest rate on a loan. Source: OCC
  • utility: as used in this Division 123 means and includes: (1) harbors, canals, slips, wharves, docks, levees, piers, quay walls, breakwaters, and all appropriate harbor structures, facilities, connections, and improvements; and (2) such elevators, vaults, warehouses, including cold storage warehouses which may be acquired, owned, maintained, or operated in connection therewith, as necessary adjuncts or incidental to transportation or railroad terminals; and (3) all other necessary or appropriate terminal facilities. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-123-1
  • 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.
  • waterworks: means and includes a waterworks system in its entirety or any integral part thereof, including mains, hydrants, meters, values, standpipes, storage tanks, pump tanks, intakes, wells, impounding reservoirs, pumps, machinery, purification plants, softening apparatus, and all other elements, useful in connection with a water supply or water distribution system. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 65 ILCS 5/11-139-1
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.