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'''Age of consent''' is a term referring to the age at which a person becomes competent to consent to sexual acts with an adult. Generally this is set at 18, but ages as low as 16 and as high as 21 also exist. There are also sometimes exemptions from this law allowing children below the age of consent to have to sex with other people below a certain age, but not above that age, known informally as "Romeo and Juliet" laws.

'''Age of consent''' is a term referring to the age at which a person becomes competent to consent to sexual acts with an adult. Generally this is set at 18, but ages as low as 16 and as high as 21 also exist. There are also sometimes exemptions from this law allowing children below the age of consent to have to sex with other people below a certain age, but not above that age, known informally as "Romeo and Juliet" laws.

==Historically==

==Historically==

Historically, the age of consent was the age of Mitzvah.  13 for males, Bar Mitzvah.  12 for girls, Bat Mitzvah.  The Bible and Koran say nothing about age of consent.  In fact, "From the age at which Hebrew maidens became marriageable, it is possible that Mary gave birth to her Son when she was about thirteen or fourteen years of age. No historical document tells us how old she actually was at the time of the Nativity."<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15464b.htm (Catholic Encyclopedia)</ref>

Historically, the age of consent for Jews was the age of Mitzvah.  13 for males, Bar Mitzvah.  12 for girls, Bat Mitzvah.  The Bible and Koran say nothing about age of consent.  In fact, "From the age at which Hebrew maidens became marriageable, it is possible that Mary gave birth to her Son when she was about thirteen or fourteen years of age. No historical document tells us how old she actually was at the time of the Nativity."<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15464b.htm (Catholic Encyclopedia)</ref>

In the United States prior to 1900 many states had ages of consent as low as 10. However by 1920 most states had raised their age of consent to 18, although ages as low as 14 still existed until the 1990s. Currently all states have an age of consent of at least 16, with the majority setting their age of consent at 18.

In the United States prior to 1900 many states had ages of consent as low as 10. However by 1920 most states had raised their age of consent to 18, although ages as low as 14 still existed until the 1990s. Currently all states have an age of consent of at least 16, with the majority setting their age of consent at 18.