Actus Reus Arena
This term refers to the physical, voluntary act required for criminal liability.
What is actus reus?
This is the Latin term for the “guilty mind.”
What is mens rea?
This defense applies when a person reasonably believes force is necessary to prevent imminent harm.
What is self‑defense?
This offense involves taking a substantial step toward committing a crime.
What is attempt?
This amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
A person cannot be criminally liable for this type of movement, such as a seizure or sleepwalking
What is an involuntary act?
The lowest level of mens rea, involving failure to perceive a substantial risk.
What is negligence?
A defense where the defendant claims they were forced to commit a crime by threat of harm.
What is duress?
Asking, encouraging, or commanding someone to commit a crime.
What is solicitation?
Laws that criminalize conduct after it occurs violate this constitutional prohibition.
What is the ex post facto clause?
When a person has a legal duty to act but fails to do so, this type of actus reus may apply.
What is an omission?
When a defendant consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk.
What is recklessness?
This defense applies when a person commits a lesser harm to avoid a greater harm.
What is necessity?
An agreement between two or more people to commit a crime.
What is conspiracy?
This doctrine requires laws to be clear enough for ordinary people to understand.
What is the void‑for‑vagueness doctrine?
Possession can satisfy actus reus when the defendant has this type of control over the object.
What is conscious possession?
This mens rea requires a conscious objective to cause a specific result.
What is purpose?
When police induce someone to commit a crime they otherwise wouldn’t, this defense may apply.
What is entrapment?
The requirement that conspirators commit an act to further the plan.
What is an overt act?
The principle that punishment must be proportional to the crime.
What is the Eighth Amendment proportionality principle?
This doctrine holds that a person who creates a risk has a duty to prevent harm.
What is the creation‑of‑risk doctrine?
When a defendant intends one harm but accidentally causes another, this doctrine applies.
What is transferred intent?
This justification allows deadly force to prevent a serious felony like robbery or burglary.
What is the defense of others or defense of habitation?
When a defendant voluntarily stops before completing the crime, they may claim this defense.
What is abandonment (or renunciation)?
This constitutional requirement ensures the government cannot punish protected speech.
What is the First Amendment?