Which option describes the 'guilty act' component of a crime?

• A. Mens rea
• B. Corpus delicti
• C. Actus reus
• D. Indicia

Answer: (C)

Actus reus describes the physical component of a crime—the voluntary act or omission that breaks the law. It includes actions like striking someone, taking property, or failing to act when there is a legal duty to do so, and it must be voluntary and causally related to the prohibited outcome in the offense. This is the part of liability that corresponds to the “guilty act.”

Mens rea is the mental state—the guilty mind or intent behind the act. Corpus delicti refers to the “body of the crime,” the proof that a crime occurred through its essential elements. Indicia are signs or indicators, not a formal element describing the act itself.