Terms Used In New York Laws > Election > Article 4 - Proceedings Preliminary to Registration, Enrollment and Elections

• activities of daily living: means activities such as, but not limited to, mobility, eating, toileting, dressing, grooming, housekeeping, cooking, shopping, money management, banking, driving or using public transportation, and other activities related to personal needs and to property management. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• 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.
• 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.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
• available resources: means resources such as, but not limited to, visiting nurses, homemakers, home health aides, adult day care and multipurpose senior citizen centers, powers of attorney, health care proxies, trusts, representative and protective payees, and residential care facilities. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• 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}
• Best interests: means promoting personal well-being by the assessment of the risks, benefits and alternatives to the patient of a proposed major medical treatment, taking into account factors including the relief of suffering, the preservation or restoration of functioning, improvement in the quality of the patient's life with and without the proposed major medical treatment and consistency with the personal beliefs and values known to be held by the patient. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 80.03
• Commission: means the commission on quality of care and advocacy for persons with disabilities. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 80.03
• 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.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• 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.
• Correspondent: means a person who has demonstrated a genuine interest in promoting the best interests of the patient by having a personal relationship with the patient, by participating in the patient's care and treatment, by regularly visiting the patient, or by regularly communicating with the patient. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 80.03
• Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
• Decedent: A deceased person.
• Declarant: means a person who submits a declaration pursuant to the provisions of this article and may include any provider of health services, the director of the patient's residential facility or a relative or correspondent of the patient. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 80.03
• Declaration: means a written statement submitted in accordance with section 80. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 80.03
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• 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.
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• facility: means a facility, hospital, or school, or an alcoholism facility in this state as such terms are defined in section 1. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• functional level: means the ability to provide for personal needs and/or the ability with respect to property management. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• functional limitations: means behavior or conditions of a person which impair the ability to provide for personal needs and/or property management. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• 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.
• guardian: means a person who is eighteen years of age or older, a corporation, or a public agency, including a local department of social services, appointed in accordance with terms of this article by the supreme court, the surrogate's court, or the county court to act on behalf of an incapacitated person in providing for personal needs and/or for property management. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.
• 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.
• least restrictive form of intervention: means that the powers granted by the court to the guardian with respect to the incapacitated person represent only those powers which are necessary to provide for that person's personal needs and/or property management and which are consistent with affording that person the greatest amount of independence and self-determination in light of that person's understanding and appreciation of the nature and consequences of his or her functional limitations. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• major medical or dental treatment: means a medical, surgical or diagnostic intervention or procedure where a general anesthetic is used or which involves any significant risk or any significant invasion of bodily integrity requiring an incision or producing substantial pain, discomfort, debilitation, or having a significant recovery period, or which involves the administration of psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy; it does not include any routine diagnosis or treatment such as the administration of medications other than chemotherapy for non-psychiatric conditions or nutrition or the extraction of bodily fluids for analysis; dental care performed with a local anesthetic; and any procedures which are provided under emergency circumstances, pursuant to § 2504 of the public health law. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• Major medical treatment: means a medical, surgical or diagnostic intervention or procedures where a general anesthetic is used or which involves any significant risk or any significant invasion of bodily integrity requiring an incision or producing substantial pain, discomfort, debilitation or having a significant recovery period. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 80.03
• mental hygiene facility: means a facility, hospital, or school, or an alcoholism facility in this state as such terms are defined in section 1. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Panel: means a subcommittee of four members of the surrogate decision-making committee. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 80.03
• personal needs: means needs such as, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, health care, and safety. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• property management: means taking actions to obtain, administer, protect, and dispose of real and personal property, intangible property, business property, benefits, and income and to deal with financial affairs. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 81.03
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• 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.
• Surrogate decision-making committee: means a committee of at least twelve persons established pursuant to section 80. See N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law 80.03
• 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.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• 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.
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.