Terms Used In Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 13A > Subchapter C - Inchoate Offenses

• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• 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.
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005