class
Defined in 7 dictionaries — U.S. Code, Cyclopedic (1922), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889)
United States Code
5 U.S.C. § 5102 — in this section (10 versions over time)
“class” or “class of positions” includes all positions which are sufficiently similar, as to—
(A) kind or subject-matter of work;
(B) level of difficulty and responsibility; and
(C) the qualification requirements of the work;
15 U.S.C. § 78L — in this section (6 versions over time)
For the purposes of this subsection the term “class” shall include all securities of an issuer which are of substantially similar character and the holders of which enjoy substantially similar rights and privileges. The Commission may for the purpose of this subsection define by rules and regulations the terms “total assets” and “held of record” as it deems necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors in order to prevent circumvention of the provisions of this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, a security futures product shall not be considered a class of equity security of the issuer of the securities underlying the security futures product. For purposes of determining whether an issuer is required to register a security with the Commission pursuant to paragraph (1), the definition of “held of record” shall not include securities held by persons who received the securities pursuant to an employee compensation plan in transactions exempted from the registration requirements of section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. 77e].
16 U.S.C. § 2602 — in this section
The term “class” means, with respect to electric consumers, any group of such consumers who have similar characteristics of electric energy use.
28 U.S.C. § 1332 — for the purposes of this section
the term “class” means all of the class members in a class action;
28 U.S.C. § 1453 — in this section (3 versions over time)
Definitions.—In this section, the terms "class", "class action", "class certification order", and "class member" shall have the meanings given such terms under section 1332(d)(1).
28 U.S.C. § 1711 — in this chapter
Class.—The term “class” means all of the class members in a class action.
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
A number of persons or things ranked together for some common purpose, or as possessing some attribute in common. The term is used of legatees (3 Mc Cord [S. C] 440), of obligees in a bond (3 Dev. [N. C] 284; 4 Dev. [N. C] 382), and of other collections of persons (17 Wend. [N. Y.]/ 52; 16 Pick. [Mass.] 132).
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
A number of persons or things ranked together for some common purpose or as possessing some attribute in common. The term is used of legatees; Swinton v. Legare, 2 Mc Cord Eq. (S. C.) 440; of obligees in a bond; Justices of Cumberland v. Armstrong, 14 N. C. 284; and of other collections of persons; White v. Delavan, 17 Wend. (N. Y.) 52; Ellis v. Kimball, 16 Pick. (Mass.) 132; Wheeler v. Philadelphia, 77 Pa. 338; 1 Ld. Raym. 708.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
The order or rank according to which persons or things are arranged or assorted. Also a group of persons or things, taken collectively, having certain qualities in common, and constituting a unit for certain purposes; e. g a class of legatees. In re Harpke, 116 Fed. 207, 54 C. C. A. 07; Swarts v. Bank, 117 Fed. 1, 54 C. C. A. 387; Farnam v. Farnam, 53 Conn. 261, 2 Atl. 325, 5 Atl. 682; Dulany v. Middleton, 72 Md. 67, 19 Atl. 146; In re Russell, 168 N. Y. 169, 61 N. E. 166.
— Class legislation. A term applied to statutory enactments which divide the people or subjects of legislation into classes, with reference either to the grant of privileges or the imposition of burdens, upon an arbitrary, unjust, or invidious principle of division, or which, though the principle of division may be sound and justifiable, make arbitrary discriminations between those persons or things coming within the same class. State v. Garbroski, 111 Iowa, 496, 82 N. W. 959, 56 L. R. A. 570, 82 Am. St. Rep. 524 ; In re Hang Kie, 69 Cal. 149, 10 Pac. 327; Hawkins v. Roberts, 122 Ala. 130, 27 South. 327; State v. Cooley, 56 Minn. 540, 58 N. W. 150; Wagner v. Milwaukee County, 112 Wis. 601, 88 N. W. 577; State v. Brewing Co., 104 Tenn. 715, 59 S. W. 1033, 78 Am. St. Rep. 941.
A Law Dictionary and Glossary
George C. Kinney · 1893
An order or rank of persons or things; a number of persons or things arranged collectively under one head, and having certain qualities in common, as, creditors, legatees, etc.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
The order or rank according to which persons or things are arranged or assorted. Also a group of persons or things, taken collectively, having certain qualities in common, and constituting a unit for certain purposes; e. g., a class of legatees.
A Dictionary of Law
William C. Anderson · 1889
Persons or things ranked together for like action, for similar or uniform treatment, as possessing a common attribute, or as being in the same category. Used of legatees, obligees, and other persons;' of cities;' of legislation. = See City, 8; Enuueratiok; Leoacy.