What term is used for the formal questioning of a witness by the party that called them?

The term that refers to the formal questioning of a witness by the party that called them is "direct examination." In a legal context, direct examination is the initial questioning of a witness by the party who has called them to testify. This process allows the party to establish the witness's credentials and present their testimony to support their case. During direct examination, the questioning party seeks to elicit factual information from the witness that is relevant to the case, while avoiding leading questions that suggest a specific answer.

In contrast, interrogation typically refers to the questioning of a suspect or accused individual, often seen in criminal investigations, rather than the formal testimony of a witness in court. A subpoena is a legal document that orders an individual to appear as a witness or produce evidence, and it is not a type of questioning itself. An affidavit is a written statement of facts that is sworn to be true, which may or may not involve a witness testifying in court, but is not the process of questioning.