act

Denotes external manifestation of actor's will. Restatement, Second, Torts No. 2.

Expression of will or purpose, carrying idea of performance; primarily that which is done or doing; exercise of power, or effect of which power exerted is cause; a performance; a deed.

In its most general sense, this noun signifies something done voluntarily by a person; the exercise of an individual's power; an effect produced in the external world by an exercise of the power of a person objectively, prompted by intention, and proximately caused by a motion of the will.

In a more technical sense, it means something done voluntarily by a person, and of such a nature that certain legal consequences attach to it. Thus a grantor acknowledges the conveyance to be his "act and deed," the terms being synonymous.

It may denote something done by an individual, as a private citizen, or as an officer; or by a body of men, as a legislature, a council, or a court of justice; including not merely physical acts, but also decrees, edicts, laws, judgments, resolves, awards, and determinations.

Some general laws made by the Congress of the United States are styled joint resolutions, and these have the same force and effect as those styled acts.

Acts under private signature are those which have been made by private individuals under their hands.

Criminal act. External manifestation of one's will which is prerequisite to criminal responsibility. There can be no crime without some act, affirmative or negative. An omission or failure to act may constitute an act for purpose of criminal law.

Legislative act. An alternative name for statutory law. A bill which has been enacted by legislature into law. When introduced into the first house of the legislature, a piece of proposed legislation is known as a bill. When passed to the next house, it may then be referred to as an act. After enactment the terms "law" and "act" may be used interchangeably. An act has the same legislative force as a joint resolution but is technically distinguishable, being of a different form and introduced with the words "Be it enacted" instead of "Be it resolved."

Acts are either public or private.

Public acts (also called general acts, or general statutes, or statutes at large) are those which relate to the community generally, or establish a universal rule for the governance of the whole body politic.

Private acts (formerly called special acts), are those which relate either to particular persons (personal acts) or to particular places (local acts), or which operate only upon specified individuals or their private concerns. Unity v. Burrage, 103 U.S. 447, 454, 26 L.Ed. 465.

Public acts are those which concern the whole community and of which courts of law are bound to take judicial notice. A "special" or "private" act is one operating only on particular persons and private concerns. A "local act" is one applicable only to a particular part of the legislative jurisdiction.

See also public acts; private acts

See also governmental act

- legislation

- legislative act

- statute.

Private acts are those made by private persons as registers in relation to their receipts and expenditures, schedules, acquittances, and the like.

Public acts are those which have a public authority, and which have been made before public officers, are authorized by a public seal, have been made public by the authority of a magistrate, or which have been extracted and been properly authenticated from public records

@ act under private signature

@ acts under private signature

Acts under private signature are those which have been made by private individuals under their hands.

@ criminal act

External manifestation of one's will which is prerequisite to criminal responsibility. There can be no crime without some act, affirmative or negative. An omission or failure to act may constitute an act for purpose of criminal law.

+

Commission of a crime

@ legislative act

Legislative act.

An alternative name for statutory law.

A bill which has been enacted by legislature into law. When introduced into the first house of the legislature, a piece of proposed legislation is known as a bill. When passed to the next house, it may then be referred to as an act. After enactment the terms "law" and "act" may be used interchangeably. An act has the same legislative force as a joint resolution but is technically distinguishable, being of a different form and introduced with the words "Be it enacted" instead of "Be it resolved."

Acts are either public or private (public acts, private acts).

+ legislative act

Enactment of laws. Law (i.e. statute) passed by legislature in contrast to court-made law. One which prescribes what the law shall be in future cases arising under its provisions. Forstner v. City and County of San Francisco, 52 Cal.Rptr. 621, 626, 243 C.A.2d 625, 67 C.2d 666.

See statute

@ private acts

acts made by private persons as registers in relation to their receipts and expenditures, schedules, acquittances, and the like.

Private acts (formerly called special acts), are those which relate either to particular persons (personal acts) or to particular places (local acts), or which operate only upon specified individuals or their private concerns. Unity v. Burrage, 103 U.S. 447, 454, 26 L.Ed. 465.

Public acts are those which concern the whole community and of which courts of law are bound to take judicial notice. A "special" or "private" act is one operating only on particular persons and private concerns. A "local act" is one applicable only to a particular part of the legislative jurisdiction.

Compare public acts

@ public acts

acts which have a public authority, and which have been made before public officers, are authorized by a public seal, have been made public by the authority of a magistrate, or which have been extracted and been properly authenticated from public records

Public acts (also called general acts, or general statutes, or statutes at large) are those which relate to the community generally, or establish a universal rule for the governance of the whole body politic.

Compare private acts

@