(A) Legislative intent and meaning. All general provisions, terms, phrases, and expressions shall be liberally construed in order to carry out the true legislative intent and meaning.
(ILCS Ch. 5, Act 70, § 1.01)
(B) Construction. Words and phrases shall be read in context and construed according to the rules of grammar and common usage. Words and phrases that have acquired a technical or particular meaning, whether by legislative definition or otherwise, shall be construed accordingly.
(C) Generally. As used in the code, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Words importing the singular number may extend and be applied to several persons or things, and words importing the plural number may include the singular.
(ILCS Ch. 5, Act 70, § 1.03)
(2) Words importing the masculine gender may be applied to females.
(ILCS Ch. 5, Act 70, § 1.04)
(3) Words in the present tense include the future.
(ILCS Ch. 5. Act 70, § 1.02)
(D) Computation of time.
(1) The time within which any act provided by law is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, as defined or fixed in any statute now or hereafter in force in this state, and then it shall also be excluded. If the day succeeding the Saturday, Sunday, or holiday is also a holiday or a Saturday or Sunday, then the succeeding day shall also be excluded.
(ILCS Ch. 5, Act 70, § 1.11)
(2) In all cases where the law shall require any act to be done in a reasonable time or reasonable notice to be given, reasonable time or notice shall mean the time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of the duty or compliance with the notice.
(E) Authority. When the law requires an act to be done which may by law as well be done by an agent as by the principal, the requirement shall be construed to include all such acts when done by an authorized agent.
(F) Joint authority. All words purporting to give joint authority to three or more county officers or other persons shall be construed as giving this authority to a majority of these officers or other persons, unless it shall be otherwise expressly declared in the law giving the authority or inconsistent with state statute or other provisions.
(ILCS Ch. 5, Act 70, § 1.09)
(G) Exceptions. The rules of construction shall not apply to any law which shall contain any express provision excluding such construction, or when the subject matter or context of the law may be repugnant thereto.
(1980 Code, § 10.06) (Ord. 11-287, passed 8-18-2011)