2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 1 - Definitions.
Chapter 1.
Civil Procedure.
SUBCHAPTER I. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS.
Article 1.
Definitions.
§ 1‑1.� Remedies.
Remedies in the courts of justice are divided into �
(1)������ Actions.
(2)������ Special proceedings. (C.C.P., s. 1; Code, s. 125; Rev., s. 346; C.S., s. 391.)
§ 1‑2.� Actions.
An action is an ordinary proceeding in a court of justice, by which a party prosecutes another party for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment or prevention of a public offense. (C.C.P., s. 2; 1868‑9, c. 277, s. 2; Code, s. 126; Rev., s. 347; C.S., s. 392.)
§ 1‑3.� Special proceedings.
Every other remedy is a special proceeding. (C.C.P., s. 3; Code, s. 127; Rev., s. 348; C.S., s. 393.)
§ 1‑4.� Kinds of actions.
Actions are of two kinds �
(1)������ Civil.
(2)������ Criminal. (C.C.P., s. 4; Code, s. 128; Rev., s. 349; C.S., s. 394.)
§ 1‑5.� Criminal action.
A criminal action is �
(1)������ An action prosecuted by the State as a party, against a person charged with a public offense, for the punishment thereof.
(2)������ An action prosecuted by the State, at the instance of an individual, to prevent an apprehended crime against his person or property. (Const., art. 4, s. 1; C.C.P., s. 5; Code, s. 129; Rev., s. 350; C.S., s. 395.)
§ 1‑6.� Civil action.
Every other is a civil action. (C.C.P., s. 6; Code, s. 130; Rev., s. 351; C.S., s. 396.)
§ 1‑7.� When court means clerk.
In the following sections which confer jurisdiction or power, or impose duties, where the words "superior court," or "court," in reference to a superior court are used, they mean the clerk of the superior court, unless otherwise specially stated, or unless reference is made to a regular session of the court, in which cases the judge of the court alone is meant. (C.C.P., s. 9; Code, s. 132; Rev., s. 352; C.S., s. 397; 1971, c. 381, s. 12.)
