Section 1.

1. This act shall be known as the Government Code. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 10.

10. “Section” means a section of this code unless some other statute is specifically mentioned. “Subdivision” means a subdivision of the section in which the term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 11.

11. The present tense includes the past and future tenses; and the future, the present. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 12.

12. The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 12.2.

12.2. “Spouse” includes “registered domestic partner,” as required by Section 297.5 of the Family Code. (Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50, Sec. 44. (SB 1005) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Section 12.5.

12.5. The Legislature hereby declares its intent that the terms “man” or “men” where appropriate shall be deemed “person” or “persons” and any references to the terms “man” or “men” in sections of this code be changed to “person” or “persons” when such code sections are being amended for any purpose. This act is declaratory […]

Section 13.

13. The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 14.

14. “Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 15.

15. “Oath” includes affirmation. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 16.

16. “Signature” or “subscription” includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not write, such signer’s or subscriber’s name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near the signer’s or subscriber’s name; but a signature or subscription by mark can be acknowledged or can serve as a signature or […]

Section 16.5.

16.5. (a) In any written communication with a public entity, as defined in Section 811.2, in which a signature is required or used, any party to the communication may affix a signature by use of a digital signature that complies with the requirements of this section. If a public entity elects to use a digital signature, […]

Section 17.

17. “Person” includes any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, or company. (Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1010, Sec. 134. Effective January 1, 1995.)

Section 18.

18. “State” means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. In the latter case, it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 19.

19. “County” includes city and county. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 2.

2. The provisions of this code in so far as they are substantially the same as existing statutory provisions relating to the same subject matter shall be construed as restatements and continuations, and not as new enactments. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 20.

20. “City” includes “city and county” and “incorporated town,” but does not include “unincorporated town” or “village.” (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 21.

21. “Town” includes “unincorporated town” and “village.” (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 22.

22. “Process” includes a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings of either a civil or criminal nature. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 23.

23. If any provision of this code, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the code, or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Section 24.

24. The Legislature hereby declares its intent that the term “workmen’s compensation” shall hereafter also be known as “workers’ compensation.” In furtherance of this policy it is the desire of the Legislature that references to the term “workmen’s compensation” in this code be changed to “workers’ compensation” when such code sections are being amended for […]