• The federal government must rely on specific powers granted by the Constitution to pass criminal laws.
  • Discuss the importance of the Commerce Clause and the jurisdictional power it grants to the federal government to enact criminal laws.
• Before one can be punished for committing a crime, the prosecution must prove two essential elements exist.
  • Identify what is meant by mens rea and actus reus and what the burden of proof is for a criminal conviction. How is the burden of proof different for civil cases?