Felonies are defined as:

Felonies are defined as:

• A. A minor offense against public peace
• B. A category punishable by only fines
• C. A more serious offense than a misdemeanor and is punishable by confinement in a penitentiary to a maximum of death
• D. A class of offenses punishable by community service

Answer: (C)

Felonies are the more serious crimes, defined by being punishable by confinement in the state penitentiary, with the most serious cases potentially carrying the death penalty. That combination—seriousness beyond a misdemeanor and a punishment that involves state prison—accurately captures what a felony is in Texas law. The other descriptions describe offenses or punishments that do not reflect the defining feature of a felony: being punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary rather than solely by fines or community service, and not just a minor offense against public peace.

Felonies are the more serious crimes, defined by being punishable by confinement in the state penitentiary, with the most serious cases potentially carrying the death penalty. That combination—seriousness beyond a misdemeanor and a punishment that involves state prison—accurately captures what a felony is in Texas law. The other descriptions describe offenses or punishments that do not reflect the defining feature of a felony: being punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary rather than solely by fines or community service, and not just a minor offense against public peace.