§ 1621. Perjury generally
419 words·~2 min read·
/usc/title-18/section-1621A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Whoever—
(1)having taken an oath before a competent tribunal, officer, or person, in any case in which a law of the United States authorizes an oath to be administered, that he will testify, declare, depose, or certify truly, or that any written testimony, declaration, deposition, or certificate by him subscribed, is true, willfully and contrary to such oath states or subscribes any material matter which he does not believe to be true; or
(2)in any declaration, certificate, verification, or statement under penalty of perjury as permitted under section 1746 of title 28, United States Code, willfully subscribes as true any material matter which he does not believe to be true;
is guilty of perjury and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided by law, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. This section is applicable whether the statement or subscription is made within or without the United States.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 773; Pub. L. 88–619, § 1, Oct. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 995; Pub. L. 94–550, § 2, Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2534; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 231, 629 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 125, 35 Stat. 1111; June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title XI, § 19, 40 Stat. 230).
Words “except as otherwise expressly provided by law” were inserted to avoid conflict with perjury provisions in other titles where the punishment and application vary.
More than 25 additional provisions are in the code. For construction and application of several such sections, see Behrle v. United States (App. D.C. 1938, 100 F. 2d 714), United States v. Hammer (D.C.N.Y., 1924, 299 F. 1011, affirmed, 6 F. 2d 786), Rosenthal v. United States (1918, 248 F. 684, 160 C.C.A. 584), cf. Epstein v. United States (1912, 196 F. 354, 116 C.C.A. 174, certiorari denied 32 S. Ct. 527, 223 U.S. 731, 56 L. ed. 634).
Mandatory punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative.
Minor verbal changes were made.
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15 references not yet in our index
- June 25, 1948, ch. 645
- 62 Stat. 773
- Pub. L. 88–619, § 1
- 78 Stat. 995
- Pub. L. 94–550, § 2
- 90 Stat. 2534
- Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I)
- 108 Stat. 2147
- Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 125
- 35 Stat. 1111
- June 15, 1917, ch. 30
- 40 Stat. 230
- Pub. L. 103–322
- Pub. L. 94–550
- Pub. L. 88–619
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§ 1621
Perjury generally
Fed. Reg.×88
IRM×23
C.F.R.×10
U.S.C.×3
Stat.×1
ActJune 25, 1948, ch. 645
Stat.62 Stat. 773
Pub. L.Pub. L. 88–619, § 1
Stat.78 Stat. 995
Pub. L.Pub. L. 94–550, § 2
Cites 16 · showing 6Cited by 125 across 5 sources