age of consent

age of consent

age of consent the age at which, according to the law, persons are bound by their words and acts. There are different ages at which one acquires legal capacity to consent to marriage, to choose a guardian, to conclude a contract, and the like. For marriage, the age may be higher for males than for females if the jurisdiction does not guarantee equal rights to men and women. Age of consent also means the age below which consent of the female to sexual intercourse is not a defense to a charge of rape . Under common law this age was 10; state statutes in the United States generally set it between 13 and 18. See also consent .

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"age of consent." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Age of Consent

AGE OF CONSENT

The age at which a person may marry without parental approval. The age at which a female is legally capable of agreeing to sexual intercourse, so that a male who engages in sex with her cannot be prosecuted forstatutory rape.

A person below the age of consent is sometimes called an infant or minor.

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"Age of Consent." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Age of Consent." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437700198.html

"Age of Consent." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437700198.html

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consent, age of

consent, age of the age at which a person's consent to sexual intercourse is valid in law.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "consent, age of." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "consent, age of." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-consentageof.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "consent, age of." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-consentageof.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

LORDS CRUSH GAY AGE CONSENT BILL
Newspaper article from: Birmingham Evening Mail (England); 4/14/1999
Age of consent to sexual activity in Canada: background to proposed new...
Magazine article from: The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality; 9/22/2006
Age of consent to sexual activity: what should you know about this topic and...
Magazine article from: The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality; 4/5/2012
age of consent images
age of consent. (Image by Flickr user JoeBehrDenver, CC)