Under Rule 7(a), which of the following is a pleading?

• A. Subpoena
• B. Complaint
• C. Plea
• D. Motion

Answer: (B)

Pleadings are the formal written statements that start and shape a civil action. Under Rule 7(a), the pleading that begins a lawsuit is the complaint, which lays out the plaintiff’s claims, the basis for jurisdiction, the facts supporting those claims, and the relief sought. This document is specifically categorized as a pleading because it initiates the case and provides the notice and framework for what the court will decide.

A subpoena is a tool to compel attendance or production of evidence and is not a pleading. A plea isn’t the civil-procedure term used for asserting defenses; in civil cases a defendant responds with an answer rather than a plea. A motion is a request asking the court to rule on a particular issue and is separate from pleadings. Therefore, the complaint fits the definition of a pleading under Rule 7(a).