(i) An act that would be a violent felony under the laws of this state, whether or not committed in this state. See Michigan Laws 750.543b

Actor: means a person accused of criminal sexual conduct. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.

Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.

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.

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.

annual meeting: when applied to townships, mean the annual meeting required by law to be held on the Saturday immediately preceding the first Monday in April. See Michigan Laws 8.3d

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.

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

Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.

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.

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.

Balanced budget: A budget in which receipts equal outlays.

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}

Bequest: Property gifted by will.

Bodily injury: means any physical injury. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

Chambers: A judge's office.

Coercion: includes , but is not limited to, any of the following:

    (i) Threatening to harm or physically restrain any individual or the creation of any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause an individual to believe that failure to perform an act would result in psychological, reputational, or financial harm to, or physical restraint of, any individual. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

Commercial sexual activity: means 1 or more of the following for which anything of value is given or received by any person:

    (i) An act of sexual penetration or sexual contact as those terms are defined in section 520a. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

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.

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.

Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.

Dangerous to human life: means that which causes a substantial likelihood of death or serious injury or that is a violation of section 349 or 350. See Michigan Laws 750.543b

Debt bondage: includes , but is not limited to, the status or condition of a debt arising from a pledge by the debtor of his or her personal services or those of an individual under his or her control as a security for a debt, if the value of those services as reasonably assessed is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt or the length and nature of those services are not specifically limited and defined. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

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.

Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.

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.

Developmental disability: means an impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior that meets all of the following criteria:

    (i) It originated before the person became 18 years of age. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

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:

Donee: The recipient of a gift.

Donor: The person who makes a gift.

Election: means an election or primary election at which the electors of this state or of a subdivision of this state choose or nominate by ballot an individual for public office or decide a ballot question lawfully submitted to them. See Michigan Laws 168.2

election precinct: as used in this act shall mean a political subdivision, the area of which is embraced in its entirety within the confines of a city, ward, township or village, and for which not more than 1 polling place is provided for all qualified and registered electors residing therein. See Michigan Laws 168.654

Electronic monitoring: means that term as defined in section 85 of the corrections code of 1953, 1953 PA 232, MCL 791. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. ^{Source: OCC}

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.

felony: when used in this act, shall be construed to mean an offense for which the offender, on conviction may be punished by death, or by imprisonment in state prison. See Michigan Laws 750.7

Financial harm: means any of the following:

    (i) Conduct prohibited under section 1 of 1968 PA 259, MCL 438. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

firearm: except as otherwise specifically defined in statute, includes any weapon which will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by action of an explosive. See Michigan Laws 8.3t

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.

Force: includes , but is not limited to, physical violence or threat of physical violence or actual physical restraint or confinement or threat of actual physical restraint or confinement without regard to whether injury occurs. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

Forced labor or services: means labor or services that are obtained or maintained by force, fraud, or coercion. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.

Freedom of Information Act: A federal law that mandates that all the records created and kept by federal agencies in the executive branch of government must be open for public inspection and copying. The only exceptions are those records that fall into one of nine exempted categories listed in the statute. ^{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 November election: means the election held on the November regular election date in an even numbered year. See Michigan Laws 168.2

Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.

grantee: may be construed as including every person to whom any such interest or estate passes in like manner. See Michigan Laws 8.3e

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.

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.

in writing: shall be construed to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. See Michigan Laws 8.3q

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.

Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.

Intellectual disability: means that term as defined in section 100b of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Intermediate school district: means a corporate body established under part 7 of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Intimate parts: includes the primary genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttock, or breast of a human being. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

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.

Labor: means work of economic or financial value. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

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}

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.

Majority leader: see Floor Leaders

Manufacturer: means a person that prepares, produces, derives, propagates, compounds, processes, packages, or repackages a drug or device salable on prescription only, or otherwise changes the container or the labeling of a drug or device salable on prescription only, and that supplies, distributes, sells, offers for sale, barters, or otherwise disposes of that drug or device and any other drug or device salable on prescription only, to another person for resale, compounding, or dispensing. See Michigan Laws 333.17706

Material support or resources: means currency or other financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, safe houses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel, transportation, including any related physical assets or intangible property, or expert services or expert assistance. See Michigan Laws 750.543b

Mental health professional: means that term as defined in section 100b of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Mental illness: means a substantial disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Mentally disabled: means that a person has a mental illness, is intellectually disabled, or has a developmental disability. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Mentally incapable: means that a person suffers from a mental disease or defect that renders that person temporarily or permanently incapable of appraising the nature of his or her conduct. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Mentally incapacitated: means that a person is rendered temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling the person's conduct due to the influence of a narcotic, anesthetic, alcohol, or other substance, or due to any act committed upon that person without the person's consent. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Minor: means an individual under 18 years of age. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

month: means a calendar month; the word "year" a calendar year; and the word "year" alone shall be equivalent to the words "year of our Lord". See Michigan Laws 8.3j

Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.

Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.

motor vehicle: as used in this chapter shall include all vehicles impelled on the public highways of this state by mechanical power, except traction engines, road rollers and such vehicles as run only upon rails or tracks. See Michigan Laws 750.412

Nonpublic school: means a private, denominational, or parochial elementary or secondary school. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Oath: A promise to tell the truth.

oath: shall be construed to include the word "affirmation" in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath; and in like cases the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed". See Michigan Laws 8.3k

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.

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, agent, association, charitable organization, corporation, joint apprenticeship committee, joint stock company, labor organization, legal representative, mutual company, partnership, receiver, trust, trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, unincorporated organization, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Michigan Laws 750.543b

person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals. See Michigan Laws 8.3l

Personal injury: means bodily injury, disfigurement, mental anguish, chronic pain, pregnancy, disease, or loss or impairment of a sexual or reproductive organ. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Personal property: All property that is not real property.

Physically helpless: means that a person is unconscious, asleep, or for any other reason is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Presentence report: A report prepared by a court's probation officer, after a person has been convicted of an offense, summarizing for the court the background information needed to determine the appropriate sentence. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}

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.

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.

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 law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.

Public school: means a public elementary or secondary educational entity or agency that is established under the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

qualified elector: as used in this act , means a person who possesses the qualifications of an elector as prescribed in section 1 of article II of the state constitution of 1963 and who has resided in the city or township 30 days. See Michigan Laws 168.10

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.

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.

Renders criminal assistance: means that the person with the intent to avoid, prevent, hinder, or delay the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, trial, or sentencing of a person who he or she knows or has reason to know has violated this chapter or is wanted as a material witness in connection with an act of terrorism pursuant to section 39 of chapter VII of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 767. See Michigan Laws 750.543b

Residence: as used in this act , for registration and voting purposes means that place at which a person habitually sleeps, keeps his or her personal effects, and has a regular place of lodging. See Michigan Laws 168.11

Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.

School district: means a general powers school district organized under the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

seal: means a seal of high tensile strength that is approved by the secretary of state under section 36. See Michigan Laws 168.14a

seal: shall be construed to include any of the following:

    (a) The impression of the seal on the paper alone. See Michigan Laws 8.3n

Serious bodily injury: means any physical injury requiring medical treatment, regardless of whether the victim seeks medical treatment. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

Services: means an ongoing relationship between a person and an individual in which the individual performs activities under the supervision of or for the benefit of the person, including, but not limited to, commercial sexual activity and sexually explicit performances. See Michigan Laws 750.462a

Sexual contact: includes the intentional touching of the victim's or actor's intimate parts or the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the victim's or actor's intimate parts, if that intentional touching can reasonably be construed as being for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification, done for a sexual purpose, or in a sexual manner for:

    (i) Revenge. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Sexual penetration: means sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse, or any other intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person's body or of any object into the genital or anal openings of another person's body, but emission of semen is not required. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

shall not apply: means that the pertinent provision is not operative as to certain persons or things or in conjunction with a particular date or dates. See Michigan Laws 8.4c

state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o

Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

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.

Terrorist: means any person who engages or is about to engage in an act of terrorism. See Michigan Laws 750.543b

terrorist organization: means an organization that, on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, is designated by the United States state department as engaging in or sponsoring an act of terrorism. See Michigan Laws 750.543c

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.

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.

Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.

United States: shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o

Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.

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.

Victim: means the person alleging to have been subjected to criminal sexual conduct. See Michigan Laws 750.520a

Violent felony: means a felony in which an element is the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against an individual, or the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a harmful biological substance, a harmful biological device, a harmful chemical substance, a harmful chemical device, a harmful radioactive substance, a harmful radioactive device, an explosive device, or an incendiary device. See Michigan Laws 750.543b

Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.