Law A-Level
Actus reus
What Actus reus means in Law A-Level, as defined for AQA, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Actus reus
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
The physical element or 'guilty act' of a crime. It must be voluntary and can be an act, an omission, or a state of affairs.
The physical elements of an offence. For theft: appropriation, property and belonging to another.
Topics that use Actus reus
- Criminal law (AQA A-Level)
- The criminal offender (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
Related terms
- Appropriation
- Mens rea
- Dishonesty
- Justification vs Excuse
- Legal Liberalism and Autonomy
- Legislative Reform
- Public Policy and Consent
- Retributivism and Just Deserts
Using Actus reus in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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