Which statement correctly identifies the elements of crime as actus reus, mens rea, and concurrence?

• A. The legal duty; the punishment; and the appeal.
• B. The criminal act; the intent only; and the criminal result.
• C. The criminal act; the mental state; and the simultaneous occurrence of both.
• D. The social harm; the motive; and the time of day.

Answer: (C)

Criminal liability rests on an actual act, a culpable mental state, and the timing that ties them together. The statement that names the criminal act, the mental state, and their simultaneous occurrence captures actus reus, mens rea, and concurrence exactly. The other options mix in things that aren’t required elements of a crime—such as punishment or appeals—or misstate what mental state entails (focusing only on intent) or add irrelevant factors like motive or time of day.