§ 210.00 Perjury and related offenses; definitions of terms.
The following definitions are applicable to this article:
1. "Oath" includes an affirmation and every other mode
authorized by law of attesting to the truth of that which is
stated.
2. "Swear" means to state under oath.
3. "Testimony" means an oral statement made under oath in a
proceeding before any court, body, agency, public servant or
other person authorized by law to conduct such proceeding and to
administer the oath or cause it to be administered.
4. "Oath required by law." An affidavit, deposition or
other subscribed written instrument is one for which an "oath is
required by law" when, absent an oath or swearing thereto, it
does not or would not, according to statute or appropriate
regulatory provisions, have legal efficacy in a court of law or
before any public or governmental body, agency or public servant
to whom it is or might be submitted.
5. "Swear falsely." A person "swears falsely" when he
intentionally makes a false statement which he does not believe
to be true (a) while giving testimony, or (b) under oath in a
subscribed written instrument. A false swearing in a subscribed
written instrument shall not be deemed complete until the
instrument is delivered by its subscriber, or by someone acting
in his behalf, to another person with intent that it be uttered
or published as true.
6. "Attesting officer" means any notary public or other
person authorized by law to administer oaths in connection with
affidavits, depositions and other subscribed written instruments,
and to certify that the subscriber of such an instrument has
appeared before him and has sworn to the truth of the contents
thereof.
7. "Jurat" means a clause wherein an attesting officer
certifies, among other matters, that the subscriber has appeared
before him and sworn to the truth of the contents thereof.