Changes
age of consent is a seperate legal principle from age of licence, criminal responsibility, etc.
When an adult seduces a minor, this is considered a crime because the child is not old enough to make such a weighty decision as to enter into a sexual relationship. The age of consent for this decision varies (see [[statutory rape]]). A parent who takes advantage of their child's innocence and inability to choose responsibility commits the crime of [[incest]] if they seduce their own offspring (it is also forbidden in the [[Bible]]).
==Age of consent in law==
In law the age of consent is the age at which a person is deemed to be competent to give consent to an activity, such as sexual intercourse or medical treatment, which would be otherwise be unlawful without [[informed consent]].
The age of consent is one of several legal principles that govern the rights and responsibilities of minors in [[common law]] systems, such as:
*The ''age of licence'' is the minimum age that a person must obtain to be permitted to undertake an activity, such as driving a motor vehicle on public roads.
*The ''age of criminal responsibility'' is the age at which a person is deemed to be fully responsible for their criminal actions.
*The ''age of majority'' is the age at which a person is deemed to have the rights and responsibilities of an adult and the the age at which parental rights and responsibilities cease.
