§ 1009. Definitions and rules of construction.

As used in this Charter:

(a)

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

(b)

The words "act," "ordinance," "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.

(c)

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.

(d)

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of the county council, all ordinances and resolutions of the county commissioners not hereby or hereafter amended or repealed, and all public general laws and public local laws of the General Assembly in effect from time to time after the adoption of this Charter, whenever such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

(e)

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 its submission to the county executive for his approval or veto.

(f)

The word "enactment" shall mean the action or means whereby any bill after its passage attains the status of law.

(g)

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

(h)

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.

(i)

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

(j)

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

(k)

The words "hereafter" and "heretofore" shall refer to the effective date of this Charter, unless such a construction would be unreasonable.

(l)

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

(m)

A requirement of residency as a condition of any person's eligibility for election or appointment to or continuance in any county office, position or employment shall refer to the place where such person maintains his actual principal place of abode such that a person may maintain only one such place of abode at any given time.

(Bill No. 104, 1970, § 3)