A.
The following words have the precise definitions used in this Charter:
1.
The word "bill" shall mean any measure introduced in the County Council
for legislative action.
2.
The words "act," "Ordinance,"[1] "public local law" and "legislative act," when used in
connection with any action by the County Council, shall be synonymous
and shall mean any bill enacted in the manner and form provided in
this Charter.
[1]
Note: Definition of "ordinance" modified to conform to usage
of that term in State Law.
3.
The word "Regulation" shall be a measure, rule or bylaw adopted by
the County Council under authority of a public general law or public
local law giving it the right to pass such regulation.
4.
The word "resolution" shall mean a measure adopted by the County
Council having the force and effect of law but of a temporary or administrative
character.
5.
The word "law" shall be construed as including all acts, ordinances,
public local laws and other legislative acts of the County Council
in Legislative Session, all regulations and resolutions of the County
Council, all ordinances and resolutions of the County Commissioners
not hereby or hereafter amended or repealed and all public general
laws and public local laws of the General Assembly in effect from
time to time after the adoption of this Charter, whenever such construction
would be reasonable.
6.
The words "passage" and "adoption," when used in connection with
the legislative acts of the County Council, shall mean the action
by the Council in approving any item of legislative business prior
to expiration of the time when such legislation may be vetoed or submitted
to referendum of the voters as heretofore provided in this Charter.
7.
The word "enactment" shall mean the action or means whereby any bill
after its passage attains the status of law.
8.
"Assessable basis" shall be defined as the total assessed value of
all property which is subject to the full county tax.
9.
The word "state" shall mean the State of Maryland.
10.
The word "shall" shall be construed as mandatory, and the word "may"
shall be construed as permissive.
11.
The word "person" shall include the words "corporation," "partnership,"
"limited liability company," "association" and all other legal entities,
unless such a construction would be unreasonable.
12.
The word "officer" shall include the word "Council Member."
13.
Whenever in this Charter the masculine gender is used, such words
shall be construed to include the feminine gender, except where such
construction would be absurd or unreasonable.
14.
The words "hereafter" and "heretofore" shall refer to the effective
date of this Charter, unless such a construction would be unreasonable.
