In Order for a Defendant to Be Convicted of a Crime

question 47

Essay

In order for a defendant to be convicted of a crime the prosecution must successfully offer proof beyond a reasonable doubt of each element of the crime charged. List the five elements of crime. Do you believe it is fair that a person might not be held responsible for a crime if there is an element missing? For example, a person who does the actus reus (sells drugs to a neighbor) but who lacks the mens rea (sold the drugs because of death threats from their roommate if they didn't complete the drug deal).

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Definitions:

Aggregate Demand

The sum of all demand for products and services in an economy, indicating the total spending on goods and services at each price level.

Equilibrium Output

The level of output at which the quantity of goods produced equals the quantity of goods consumed in an economy, with no external pressures to change.

Short-Run Aggregate Supply Curve

A graphical representation showing the positive relationship between the total production of goods and services (aggregate supply) and the price level in the short term.

Expansionary Gap

A situation where the real GDP is higher than the potential GDP, often leading to inflationary pressures as demand outstrips supply.