What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?

A misdemeanor is defined as an offense that is not categorized as a felony under the law of the prosecuting jurisdiction, while a felony is any offense punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year ^[2]. The distinction is significant in terms of sentencing and the consequences of conviction, such as the discontinuation of pension payments for felons ^[1]. The sources do not provide additional details on the specific penalties or examples of misdemeanors versus felonies.