What crime occurs when a person deliberately lies under oath?

What crime occurs when a person deliberately lies under oath?

• A. Perjury
• B. Fraud
• C. Libel
• D. Slander

Answer: (A)

Deliberately lying under oath is perjury. The core idea is that when someone has sworn to tell the truth in a legal setting—whether in court, a deposition, or a sworn affidavit—telling a false statement knowingly is a crime. The essential elements are the oath, the falsehood, and the intent to mislead about a matter that could influence the outcome of the proceeding (a material fact). If the lie happens outside an oath, it isn’t perjury. Other terms describe different wrongdoing. Fraud involves deceiving to gain something of value and isn’t defined by an oath. Libel and slander are about false statements that harm someone's reputation and are typically civil claims or separate crimes, not about lying under oath in a legal proceeding.

Deliberately lying under oath is perjury. The core idea is that when someone has sworn to tell the truth in a legal setting—whether in court, a deposition, or a sworn affidavit—telling a false statement knowingly is a crime. The essential elements are the oath, the falsehood, and the intent to mislead about a matter that could influence the outcome of the proceeding (a material fact). If the lie happens outside an oath, it isn’t perjury.

Other terms describe different wrongdoing. Fraud involves deceiving to gain something of value and isn’t defined by an oath. Libel and slander are about false statements that harm someone's reputation and are typically civil claims or separate crimes, not about lying under oath in a legal proceeding.