(55 ILCS 5/3-12002) (from Ch. 34, par. 3-12002)
    Sec. 3-12002. Definitions. The following words and terms found in this Division have the meaning defined in this Section unless the context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended.
    (a) Appointing authority: the officer, individual, board or group, who by law or legally delegated authority, has the authority to appoint or to remove personnel from positions as county employees.
    (b) Appointment: the offer and the acceptance of employment in the county service.
    (c) Board: a county board.
    (d) Class: one or more positions sufficiently similar with respect to duties and responsibilities that the same descriptive title may be used with clarity to designate each of said positions; that the same minimum qualifications are appropriate for the performance of each such position; that the same test of fitness may be used to rank applicants on the basis of merit; and that the same schedule of pay may be applied to all such similar positions.
    (e) Classification plan: a list of the classes in the classified service by official title. For each class, a specification shall be prepared which shall set forth the duties, responsibilities and authority thereof, and the minimum qualifications necessary for entry into any of the positions in the class.
    (f) Classified service: all positions and employees in the county service subject to the provisions of this Division.
    (g) Commission: the County Personnel Policy Commission established under this Division.
    (h) County: the County government.
    (i) Department: a county governmental unit under the control of an appointing authority which has a separate operating budget approved by the Board.
    (j) Director: Director of the County Personnel Department.
    (k) Eligible: a person who has attained a passing score on an examination for a specific class.
    (l) Employee: a person who is paid a wage, salary or stipend from public monies in accordance with official entries on a county payroll.
    (m) List of eligibles: the persons who have met the minimum requirements for entry into a class.
    (n) Part-time employee: an employee who works less than 30 hours per week.
    (o) Permanent employee: any employee in the classified service who has satisfactorily completed the probationary period and has been so certified by the appointing authority.
    (p) Personnel department: the personnel director and the employees under the director's supervision.
    (q) Position: a specific employment whether occupied or vacant, involving duties requiring the services of one person.
    (r) Probation: a specified period of employment following appointment, reemployment, transfer, promotion or demotion; it is the final step in the examination process during which work performance of an employee is evaluated.
    (s) Promotion: a change in the assignment of an employee from a position in one class to a position in another class having a higher range of pay.
    (t) Suspension: the temporary separation of an employee from his/her position for disciplinary reasons.
    (u) Temporary employee: an employee who by prearrangement works at a given position for not more than 4 months per year.
    (v) Unclassified service: all positions in the county service which are exempt from the provisions of this Division and from the rules pertaining thereto.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)