Changes

'''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 rarely. 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. In the vast majority of jurisdictions this is set at 18, but ages as low as 16 and as high as 21 also exist rarely. 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==

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 set the 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 set the age of consent at 18.