Can the government punish fraud or lying under oath?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

First Amendment Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution.

Yes, the government may punish both fraud and lying under oath. While the First Amendment provides broad protections for freedom of speech, it does not protect all forms of expression.12

There are historically rooted, narrow categories of speech that fall outside of these constitutional protections. Fraud, lying under oath, and defamatory lies are explicitly recognized as exceptions that the government may punish. These exceptions apply specifically to factual falsehoods; the expression of an opinion, even one considered morally wrong, remains protected from government punishment.12