|Punitive Articles of the UCMJ|
|Article 134 - (False swearing)|
See Paragraph 60.
(1) That the accused took an oath or equivalent;
(2) That the oath or equivalent was administered to the accused in a matter in which such oath or equivalent was required or authorized by law;
(3) That the oath or equivalent was administered by a person having authority to do so;
(4) That upon this oath or equivalent the accused made or subscribed a certain statement;
(5) That the statement was false;
(6) That the accused did not then believe the statement to be true; and
(7) That, under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.
(1) Nature of offense. False swearing is the making under a lawful oath or equivalent of any false statement, oral or written, not believing the statement to be true. It does not include such statements made in a judicial proceeding or course of justice, as these are under Article 131, perjury (see paragraph 57). Unlike a false official statement under Article 107 (see paragraph 31) there is no requirement that the statement be made with an intent to deceive or that the statement be official. See paragraphs 57c(1), c(2)(c) and c(2)(e) concerning “judicial proceeding or course of justice,” proof of the falsity, and the belief of the accused, respectively.
(2) Oath. See Article 136 and R.C.M. 807 as to the authority to administer oaths, and see Section IX of Part III (Military Rules of Evidence) concerning proof of the signatures of persons authorized to administer oaths. An oath includes an affirmation when authorized in lieu of an oath.
Lesser included offense. Article 80—attempts
Maximum punishment. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 3 years.
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Above Information from Manual for Court Martial, 2002, Chapter 4, Paragraph 79