Perjury is defined as making in an official proceeding, under oath required or authorized by law, a false statement which the person does not believe to be true.

• A. Fraud
• B. Perjury
• C. Extortion
• D. Forgery

Answer: (B)

Lying under oath in an official proceeding is perjury. The key elements are an oath or affirmation given in a legally authorized setting, a false statement, and the person making the statement knowing it’s false (not believing it to be true). That combination is what makes the act perjury in sworn contexts like affidavits or court testimony.

Fraud centers on deception for financial or other benefits, not necessarily under oath or in an official proceeding. Extortion involves using threats to obtain something of value. Forgery is about creating or altering a document or signature. All are crimes, but they don’t fit the requirement of making a false statement under oath in an official proceeding.