Element

• Author: Jeffrey Lehman, Shirelle Phelps

Page 109

A material factor; a basic component.

The term is used to mean one of several parts that unite to form a whole, as in elements of a criminal action or civil action. In the TORT of ASSAULT AND BATTERY, an essential element of the offense would be unwanted physical contact. An element of the crime of rape is lack of consent on the part of the victim.