In criminal law, the physical act required to convict is called the what?

• A. Mens Rea
• B. Intent
• C. Actus Reus
• D. Property Law

Answer: (C)

In criminal law, the physical act that the law prohibits is called the actus reus. It’s the actual conduct that constitutes the crime—the external, observable part of liability. The term comes from Latin for “guilty act.” The other side of the coin is mens rea, the mental state or intent behind the act. So, actus reus focuses on what was done, while mens rea focuses on what the person was thinking or intending at the time. Some offenses require only the act (strict liability), but the standard idea behind this concept is that the physical act itself is what triggers liability, not just the mindset behind it.