State statutes require that all complaints end with the words, 'Against the peace and dignity of the State,' including complaints for city ordinance offenses.

State statutes require that all complaints end with the words, 'Against the peace and dignity of the State,' including complaints for city ordinance offenses.

• A. Not stated
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. True

Answer: (D)

In Texas, the formal closing language of a complaint is a recognized requirement in state law, signaling that the charge is a public offense brought in the name of the state. The phrase “Against the peace and dignity of the State” is the traditional ending used to frame the accusation as a matter of public order under state authority. That public-offense framing applies even when the charge is a city ordinance violation, because municipal prosecutions are conducted to enforce laws enacted by the city under the umbrella of state authority and public interest. So the concluding phrase is part of the statutory drafting standard for complaints, including those charging city ordinance offenses.

In Texas, the formal closing language of a complaint is a recognized requirement in state law, signaling that the charge is a public offense brought in the name of the state. The phrase “Against the peace and dignity of the State” is the traditional ending used to frame the accusation as a matter of public order under state authority. That public-offense framing applies even when the charge is a city ordinance violation, because municipal prosecutions are conducted to enforce laws enacted by the city under the umbrella of state authority and public interest. So the concluding phrase is part of the statutory drafting standard for complaints, including those charging city ordinance offenses.