Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 15 > CODE TITLE XXX > Chapter 13-A - Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation Act

• 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.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• 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.
• person: includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 1:10
• President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
• Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.