TCOLE Professionalism and Ethics Exam Prep 2025 – Complete Practice Test

A person is guilty of perjury when they make a false statement under oath with the intent to deceive and with knowledge of the statement's meaning. This definition emphasizes the importance of both the intent and the understanding of what is being communicated.

For someone to commit perjury, the act must occur in a formal context where an oath is taken—such as during a court proceeding or another legal setting—affirming the necessity of truthful testimony. The person must knowingly express falsehoods, which means they must possess an understanding of their statement and intend to mislead. This makes intent and comprehension key components of the offense, setting a higher standard than mere untruthfulness.

The other conditions presented may describe various contexts or elements surrounding legal proceedings but do not encapsulate the full definition of perjury as outlined in the Penal Code. While making a statement under oath is indeed part of the perjury rule, without the intent and knowledge, it doesn't fulfill the legal criteria for perjury. The presence of legal authorization or the status of being a public servant is also irrelevant to the core definition of perjury, which hinges on the elements of intent and understanding regarding the truthfulness of statements made under oath.