Perjury

Perjury is the crime of knowingly making a materially false statement under oath or affirmation in a legally authorized setting. Its elements and penalties vary by jurisdiction.

Oath: A solemn promise or declaration, often invoking legal consequences for false statements. Perjury requires a statement made under an oath or legally equivalent affirmation.
Testimony: A formal statement of evidence given by a witness, usually under oath. False sworn testimony is a familiar form of perjury.
Subornation of perjury: The offense of procuring or inducing another person to commit perjury. It targets the person who prompts false sworn testimony rather than the person who gives it.
Perjury under United States federal law: Federal criminal offenses covering specified knowingly false statements under oath or in declarations. Federal statutes define particular settings, elements, and penalties for perjury.
Materiality (law): The legal relevance of a fact to an issue or decision in a proceeding. A false statement generally must be material to qualify as perjury.
Deposition: A witness's sworn out-of-court testimony recorded for use in legal proceedings. Depositions can be legally authorized settings for perjury even outside a courtroom.
Obstruction of justice: Conduct that unlawfully interferes with the investigation, prosecution, or administration of justice. Perjury is one specific form of interference with legal proceedings, while obstruction covers broader conduct.
Perjury in English law: The English criminal offense of knowingly making a false statement under oath in a legally authorized proceeding. Its statutory formulation shows how perjury's scope differs across legal systems.
Mens rea: The mental state required for a person to be guilty of a crime. Perjury requires knowing falsity, not merely an inaccurate statement.
Grand jury: A body that examines evidence and may issue indictments in criminal cases. Sworn answers before a grand jury can support a perjury charge.

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