§ 331.101 Definitions
§ 331.201 Board membership — qualifications — term
§ 331.203 Membership increased — vote
§ 331.204 Membership reduced — vote — new members
§ 331.206 Supervisor districts
§ 331.207 Special election — supervisor districts
§ 331.208 Plan “one” terms of office
§ 331.209 Plan “two” terms of office
§ 331.210 Plan “three”
§ 331.210A Temporary county redistricting commission
§ 331.211 Organization of the board
§ 331.212 Quorum — majority vote required
§ 331.213 Meetings of the board
§ 331.214 Vacancy of supervisor’s office
§ 331.215 Compensation and expenses
§ 331.216 Membership on appointive boards, committees, and commissions
§ 331.231 Alternative forms of county government
§ 331.232 Plan for an alternative form of government
§ 331.233 Appointment of commission members
§ 331.233A Appointment of commission members — city-county consolidation or community commonwealth
§ 331.234 Organization and expenses
§ 331.235 Commission procedures and reports
§ 331.236 Ballot requirements
§ 331.237 Referendum — effective date
§ 331.238 Limitations to alternative forms of county government
§ 331.239 Board-elected executive form
§ 331.240 Duties of executive
§ 331.241 Board-manager form
§ 331.242 Duties of manager
§ 331.243 Employees of board-manager government
§ 331.244 Amendment to county government
§ 331.245 Limitations on amendments to county government
§ 331.246 Charter form of government
§ 331.247 City-county consolidated form
§ 331.248 Charter of consolidation
§ 331.249 Effect of consolidation
§ 331.250 General powers of consolidated local governments
§ 331.251 Rules, ordinances, and resolutions of consolidated government
§ 331.252 Form of ballot — city-county consolidation
§ 331.253 Requirements for multicounty government consolidation
§ 331.254 Charter of consolidation
§ 331.255 Form of ballot — multicounty consolidation
§ 331.256 Joining existing multicounty consolidated government
§ 331.257 Recognition of change in boundaries by general assembly
§ 331.260 Community commonwealth
§ 331.261 Charter — community commonwealth
§ 331.262 Adoption of charter — effect
§ 331.263 Service delivery
§ 331.301 General powers and limitations
§ 331.302 County legislation
§ 331.303 General duties of the board
§ 331.304 Procedural limitations on general county powers
§ 331.304A Limitations on county legislation
§ 331.305 Publication of notices — electronic delivery authorization
§ 331.306 Petitions of eligible electors
§ 331.307 County infractions
§ 331.308 Neglected animals
§ 331.309 Elections on public measures
§ 331.321 Appointments — removal
§ 331.322 Duties relating to county and township officers
§ 331.323 Powers relating to county officers — combining duties
§ 331.324 Duties and powers relating to county and township officers and employees
§ 331.325 Control and maintenance of pioneer cemeteries — cemetery commission
§ 331.341 Contracts
§ 331.342 Conflicts of interest in public contracts
§ 331.361 County property
§ 331.362 Roads and traffic
§ 331.381 Duties relating to services
§ 331.382 Powers and limitations relating to services
§ 331.383 Duties and powers relating to elections
§ 331.384 Abatement of public health and safety hazards — special assessments
§ 331.385 Powers and duties relating to emergency services
§ 331.401 Duties relating to finances
§ 331.402 Powers relating to finances — limitations
§ 331.403 Annual reports — financial report — urban renewal report
§ 331.421 Definitions
§ 331.422 County property tax levies
§ 331.423 Basic levies — maximums — adjustments
§ 331.424 Supplemental levies
§ 331.424B Cemetery levy
§ 331.424C Emergency services fund
§ 331.425 Additions to levies — special levy election
§ 331.427 General fund
§ 331.428 Rural services fund
§ 331.429 Secondary road fund
§ 331.430 Debt service fund
§ 331.431 Additional funds
§ 331.432 Interfund transfers
§ 331.433 Estimates submitted by departments
§ 331.434 County budget — notice and hearing — appropriations
§ 331.435 Budget amendment
§ 331.436 Protest
§ 331.437 Expenditures exceeding appropriations
§ 331.441 Definitions
§ 331.442 General county purpose bonds
§ 331.443 Essential county purpose bonds
§ 331.443A Restrictions on certain projects
§ 331.444 Sale of bonds
§ 331.445 Categories for general obligation bonds
§ 331.446 Form and execution — negotiability
§ 331.447 Taxes to pay bonds
§ 331.448 Statute of limitation — powers — conflicts
§ 331.449 Prior projects preserved
§ 331.461 Definitions
§ 331.462 County enterprises — combined county enterprises
§ 331.463 Procedure for financing
§ 331.464 Revenue bonds
§ 331.465 Rates for proprietary functions
§ 331.466 Records — accounts — funds
§ 331.467 Pledge — payment — remedy
§ 331.468 Funds — payments
§ 331.469 Statute of limitation — powers — conflicts
§ 331.470 Prior projects preserved
§ 331.471 County enterprise commissions
§ 331.476 Expenditures confined to receipts
§ 331.477 Current debt authorized
§ 331.478 Noncurrent debt authorized
§ 331.479 Other noncurrent debt issuance
§ 331.485 Definitions
§ 331.486 Assessment of costs of public improvements
§ 331.487 Special assessment bonds for public improvements
§ 331.488 Joint agreements for public improvements
§ 331.489 Rates and charges relating to public improvements
§ 331.490 Cities subject to debt service tax levy — rates
§ 331.491 Authority
§ 331.501 Office of county auditor
§ 331.502 General duties
§ 331.503 General powers
§ 331.504 Duties as clerk to the board
§ 331.505 Duties relating to elections
§ 331.506 Issuance of warrants
§ 331.507 Collection of money and fees
§ 331.508 Books and records
§ 331.510 Reports by the auditor
§ 331.511 Duties relating to platting
§ 331.512 Duties relating to taxation
§ 331.551 Office of county treasurer
§ 331.552 General duties
§ 331.553 General powers
§ 331.554 Duties relating to warrants
§ 331.555 Fund management
§ 331.557 Duties relating to vehicle registrations and certificates of title
§ 331.557A Duties relating to issuance of driver’s licenses
§ 331.558 Reports by the treasurer
§ 331.559 Duties relating to taxation
§ 331.601 Office of county recorder
§ 331.601A Definitions
§ 331.602 General duties
§ 331.603 General powers
§ 331.604 Recording and filing fees
§ 331.605 Other fees
§ 331.605B Fees collected — audit
§ 331.606 General filing requirements
§ 331.606A Document content — personally identifiable information
§ 331.606B Document or document formatting standards
§ 331.607 Books and records
§ 331.608 Military personnel records
§ 331.609 Federal liens
§ 331.610 Abolition of office of recorder — identification of office — place of filing
§ 331.611 Vital statistics
§ 331.651 Office of county sheriff
§ 331.652 General powers of the sheriff
§ 331.653 General duties of the sheriff
§ 331.654 Faithful discharge of duties — penalty for disobedience
§ 331.655 Fees — mileage — expenses
§ 331.656 Management of condemnation funds
§ 331.657 Standard uniforms
§ 331.658 Care of prisoners
§ 331.659 Prohibited actions
§ 331.661 Multicounty office
§ 331.751 Office of county attorney
§ 331.752 Full-time or part-time attorney
§ 331.753 Multicounty office
§ 331.754 Absence or disqualification of county attorney and assistants
§ 331.755 Prohibited actions
§ 331.756 Duties of the county attorney
§ 331.757 Temporary and full-time assistants
§ 331.758 General powers
§ 331.759 Appointment of private legal counsel
§ 331.801 County medical examiner — appointment, qualifications, and assistance
§ 331.802 Deaths — reported and investigated
§ 331.803 Examination certificate — fee
§ 331.804 Disposition of body and other property
§ 331.805 Prohibited actions — cremation permit — penalties
§ 331.901 General duties of county officers
§ 331.902 Collection and disposition of fees
§ 331.903 Appointment of deputies, assistants, and clerks
§ 331.904 Salaries of deputies, assistants, and clerks
§ 331.905 County compensation board
§ 331.907 Compensation schedule — preparation and adoption
§ 331.908 Motor vehicles required to operate on ethanol blended gasoline
§ 331.909 Multidisciplinary community services teams
§ 331.910 Interstate contracts for mental health and substance use disorder treatment

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Terms Used In Iowa Code > Chapter 331 - County Home Rule Implementation

  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • Administrative agency: means an agency established by a city for any city purpose or for the administration of any city facility, as provided in chapter 392, except a board established to administer a municipal utility, a zoning commission and zoning board of adjustment, or any other agency which is controlled by state law. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Amendment: means a revision or repeal of an existing ordinance or code of ordinances. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Amendment: means a revision or repeal of an existing ordinance or code of ordinances. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Auditor: means the county auditor or a deputy auditor or employee designated by the county auditor. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • 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.
  • Bailiff: a court officer who enforces the rules of behavior in courtrooms.
  • Basic levy: means a levy authorized and limited by section 331. See Iowa Code 331.421
  • Board: means the board of supervisors of a county. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • Charter: means the form of government selected by a city as provided in chapter 372. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Charter: means a formal document establishing the functions, powers, organization, structure, privileges, rights, and duties of county government not inconsistent with state law. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Child: includes child by adoption. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Clerk: means the recording and recordkeeping officer of a city regardless of title. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Clerk: means the clerk of the district court or the clerk's designee. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • 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 county enterprise: means two or more county enterprises combined and operated as a single enterprise. See Iowa Code 331.461
  • Commission: means a body of eligible electors authorized to study, review, analyze, and recommend an alternative form of county government. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • Committee: means the county finance committee established in chapter 333A. See Iowa Code 331.421
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • 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.
  • Cost: means cost as defined in section 384. See Iowa Code 331.485
  • Council: means the governing body of a city. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • County attorney: means the county attorney or a deputy county attorney or assistant county attorney designated by the county attorney. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • County enterprise: means any of the following:
  • county land record information system agreement: means the agreement entered under chapter 28E between the counties as required by Iowa Code 331.604
  • County special assessment district: means the area of a county outside of cities within boundaries established by the board of supervisors for the purpose of assessment of the cost of a public improvement. See Iowa Code 331.485
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Debt service: means expenditures for servicing the county's debt. See Iowa Code 331.421
  • Debt service levy: means a levy authorized and limited by section 331. See Iowa Code 331.421
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • deed: is a pplied to an instrument conveying lands, but does not imply a sealed instrument; and the words "bond" and "indenture" do not necessarily imply a seal, and the word "undertaking" means a promise or security in any form. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • District: means a joint special assessment district, and a county special assessment district. See Iowa Code 331.485
  • 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
  • Eligible elector: means the same as it is defined in section 39. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • 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
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Extradition: The formal process of delivering an accused or convicted person from authorities in one state to authorities in another state.
  • Federal prosecutor: A lawyer appointed by the President in each judicial district to prosecute and defend cases for the federal government.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Fiscal year: means the period of twelve months beginning July 1 and ending on the following June 30. See Iowa Code 331.421
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • 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
  • 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 county services: means the services which are primarily intended to benefit all residents of a county, including secondary road services, but excluding services financed by other statutory funds. See Iowa Code 331.421
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Governmental body: means the United States of America or an agency thereof, a state, a political subdivision of a state, a school corporation, a public authority, a public district, or any other public body. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Intellectual disability: means a diagnosis of intellectual disability or intellectual developmental disorder, global developmental delay, or unspecified intellectual disability or intellectual developmental disorder which diagnosis shall be made only when the onset of the person's condition was during the developmental period and based on an assessment of the person's intellectual functioning and level of adaptive skills. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Internet: means the federated international system that is composed of allied electronic communication networks linked by telecommunication channels, that uses standardized protocols, and that facilitates electronic communication services, including but not limited to use of the world wide web; the transmission of electronic mail or messages; the transfer of files and data or other electronic information; and the transmission of voice, image, and video. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Internet site: means a specific location on the internet that is determined by internet protocol numbers, by a domain name, or by both, including but not limited to domain names that use the designations ". See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Joint special assessment district: means a district defined by a county and one or more other counties or one or more cities within the county or within an adjacent county pursuant to an agreement entered into by the county and one or more other counties or cities in accordance with chapter 28E and this part with respect to public improvements which the parties to the agreement determine benefit the property located in the cities and the designated area of the counties outside of cities, which are parties to the agreement. See Iowa Code 331.485
  • Judicial officer: means a supreme court justice, a judge of the court of appeals, a district judge, a district associate judge, an associate juvenile judge, an associate probate judge, or a magistrate. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • 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
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Livestock: includes but is not limited to an animal classified as an ostrich, rhea, or emu. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Magistrate: means a judicial officer appointed under chapter 602, article 6, part 4. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Measure: means an ordinance, amendment, resolution, or motion. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Measure: means an ordinance, amendment, resolution, or motion. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • month: means a calendar month, and the word "year" and the abbreviation "A. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • motion: means a council statement of policy or a council order for action to be taken, but "motion" does not require a recorded vote. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • motion: means a statement of policy or an order for action to be taken. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • Net revenues: means gross revenues less operating expenses. See Iowa Code 331.461
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Officer: means a natural person elected or appointed to a fixed term and exercising some portion of the power of a city. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Ordinance: means a city law of a general and permanent nature. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Ordinance: means a county law of a general and permanent nature. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • 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: means an individual, firm, partnership, domestic or foreign corporation, company, association or joint stock association, trust, or other legal entity, and includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative thereof, but does not include a governmental body. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • personal property: include money, goods, chattels, evidences of debt, and things in action. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • persons with mental illness: include persons with psychosis, persons who are severely depressed, and persons with any type of mental disease or mental disorder, except that mental illness does not refer to intellectual disability, or to insanity, diminished responsibility, or mental incompetency as defined and used in the Iowa criminal code or in the rules of criminal procedure, Iowa court rules. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • plat of survey: means the same as defined in section 355. See Iowa Code 331.604
  • Pledge order: means a promise to pay out of the net revenues of a county enterprise or combined county enterprise, which is delivered to the contractors or other persons in payment of all or part of the cost of the project. See Iowa Code 331.461
  • 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
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Project: means the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extending, remodeling, improving, repairing, and equipping of all or part of a county enterprise or combined county enterprise within or without the boundaries of the county. See Iowa Code 331.461
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • property owner: means the contract purchaser if there is one of record, otherwise the record holder of legal title. See Iowa Code 364.12
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
  • public improvement: means the same as defined in section 26. See Iowa Code 331.341
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Rates: means rates, fees, tolls, rentals, and charges for the use of or service provided by a county enterprise or combined county enterprise. See Iowa Code 331.461
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • real property: include lands, tenements, hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Recorded vote: means a record, roll call vote. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Recorded vote: means a record, roll call vote. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • Recorder: means the county recorder or a deputy recorder or employee designated by the county recorder. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • register: include any mode of permanent recording including but not limited to, card files, microfilm or microfiche, electronic records and the like. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • Registered voter: means the same as it is defined in section 39. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • 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.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Revenue bond: means a negotiable bond issued by a county and payable from the net revenues of a county enterprise or combined county enterprise. See Iowa Code 331.461
  • road: include public bridges, and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" "common road" and "state road". See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Rule: includes "regulation". See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Rural county services: means the services which are primarily intended to benefit those persons residing in the county outside of incorporated city areas, including secondary road services, but excluding services financed by other statutory funds. See Iowa Code 331.421
  • seal: shall include an impression upon the paper alone, or upon wax, a wafer affixed to the paper, or an official stamp of a notarial officer as provided in chapter 9B. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Secondary road services: means the services related to secondary road construction and maintenance, excluding debt service and services financed by other statutory funds. See Iowa Code 331.421
  • 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: means the county sheriff or a deputy sheriff designated by the sheriff. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • Signature: includes an electronic signature as defined in section 554D. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • 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 said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • State law: includes the Constitution of the State of Iowa and state statutes. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • summary: shall mean a narrative description of the terms and conditions of an ordinance setting forth the main points of the ordinance in a manner calculated to inform the public in a clear and understandable manner the meaning of the ordinance and which shall provide the public with sufficient notice to conform to the desired conduct required by the ordinance. See Iowa Code 331.302
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Supervisor: means a member of the board of supervisors. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • 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.
  • Treasurer: means the county treasurer or a deputy treasurer or employee designated by the county treasurer. See Iowa Code 331.101
  • 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.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • undertaking: means a promise or security in any form. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • 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
  • United States: includes all the states. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • veteran: means a veteran as defined in section 35. See Iowa Code 331.608
  • 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.
  • week: means seven consecutive days. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • Writ of certiorari: An order issued by the Supreme Court directing the lower court to transmit records for a case for which it will hear on appeal.
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1