§ 1017. Definitions and Rules of Construction.

As used in this Charter or the schedule of legislation attached hereto:

(a)

The word "bill" shall mean any measure introduced in the Council for legislative action.

(b)

The words "act," "ordinance," "public local law," and "legislative act," when used in connection with any action by the Council, shall be synonymous and shall mean any bill enacted in the manner and form provided in this Charter.

(c)

The word "resolution" shall mean a measure adopted by the Council having the force and effect of law but of a temporary or administrative character.

(d)

The word "law" shall be construed as including all acts, public local laws, ordinances, and other legislative acts of the Council, all ordinances and resolutions of the County Commissioners not hereby or hereafter amended or repealed, and all public general laws and public local laws of the General Assembly in effect from time to time after the adoption of this Charter, whenever such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.

(e)

The words "enact," "enacted," or "enactment," when used in connection with the legislative acts of the Council, shall mean the action by the Council in approving any item of legislative business prior to its submission to the County Executive for his approval or veto.

(f)

The word "State" shall mean the State of Maryland.

(g)

The words "State law" shall mean all laws or portions of law enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland which may not be repealed by the Council after the effective date of this Charter.

(h)

The word "shall" shall be construed as mandatory and the word "may" shall be construed as permissive.

(i)

The word "person" shall include the words "individual," "corporation," "partnership," and "association" unless such a construction would be unreasonable.

(j)

The word "officer" shall include the word "councilman."

(k)

The words "County Executive" shall be construed as meaning the chief executive officer of the County and the elected Executive Officer mentioned in Section 3, Article XI-A of the Constitution of Maryland.

(l)

Whenever in this Charter the masculine gender is used, such words shall be construed to include the feminine gender.

(m)

The word "agency" when used to designate a subordinate element of government shall be construed as including all offices, departments, institutions, boards, commissions, and corporations of the County government and, when so specified, all other offices, departments, institutions, boards, commissions, and corporations which receive or disburse County funds.

(n)

The words "administrative officers" as used in Section 313 of this Charter shall mean the head of any agency which receives or disburses County funds.

(o)

When computing a period of time in days, the day of the event shall not be included in the computation, but the last day shall be included in the determination. Unless the words "calendar days" are used, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays observed by the County shall not be included.

(p)

The words "qualified voter," wherever they appear in this Charter, shall mean "registered voter."

(Amended, CB-92-1974, ratified Nov. 5, 1974; Amended, CB-40-1976, ratified Nov. 2, 1976; Amended, CB-109-1978, ratified Nov. 7, 1978; Amended, CB-71-2002, ratified Nov. 5, 2002)