Terms Used In Oregon Statutes > Chapter 254 > Preparatory Procedures

• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• ballot: includes material posted in a voting compartment or delivered to an elector by mail. See Oregon Statutes 254.005
• Chief elections officer: means the:

  (a) Secretary of State, regarding a candidate for a state office or an office to be voted on in the state at large or in a congressional district, or a measure to be voted on in the state at large. See Oregon Statutes 254.005

• City: includes any incorporated village or town. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• 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.
• County clerk: means the county clerk or the county official in charge of elections. See Oregon Statutes 254.005
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Elector: means an individual qualified to vote under section 2, Article II, Oregon Constitution. See Oregon Statutes 254.005
• 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.
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• 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}
• 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}
• Major political party: means a political party that has qualified as a major political party under ORS § 248. See Oregon Statutes 254.005
• Measure: includes any of the following submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at an election:

  (a) A proposed law. See Oregon Statutes 254.005

• Minor political party: means a political party that has qualified as a minor political party under ORS § 248. See Oregon Statutes 254.005
• Nonpartisan office: means the office of judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit court or the Oregon Tax Court, Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries, any elected office of a metropolitan service district under ORS Chapter 268, justice of the peace, county clerk, county assessor, county surveyor, county treasurer, county judge who exercises judicial functions, sheriff, district attorney or any office designated nonpartisan by a home rule charter. See Oregon Statutes 254.005
• Prospective petition: means the information, except signatures and other identification of petition signers, required to be contained in a completed petition. See Oregon Statutes 254.005
• Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
• 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.
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• United States: includes territories, outlying possessions and the District of Columbia. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• Vote tally system: means one or more pieces of equipment necessary to examine and tally automatically the marked ballots. See Oregon Statutes 254.005
• Voting machine: means any device that will record every vote cast on candidates and measures and that will either internally or externally total all votes cast on that device. See Oregon Statutes 254.005