Age of Consent Laws

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that American common law, which formed the basis for later legislatures, set the ?age of sexual consent? at ten; but, today, the laws are different in different states: California, Oregon, Arizona, and Wisconsin set age 18 as the minimum age for consensual sex (for girls); most other states set age 16 or 17. The author points out that, recently, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a case in a Kansas appeals court demanding the reduction of the age of consent back to 13, as was originally defined in the ?Common Law?. The paper stresses that 'age of consent law' has an important restrictive role in our present day society and serves to protect young children from undue exploitation.

Table of Contents
Introduction
A Brief History
The Present Law
Controversial Reactions
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Topics of such controversial nature carry arguments from both groups. One the one hand are the parents, social reformers and religious leaders who are concerned about the declining moral values and the health disorders that will result from premature sexual indulgence. This group of people is trying to raise the limit of the age of consent and hope that a legal barrier would prevent what they perceive a moral disaster and protect young and innocent children from exploitation. On the other hand are those (ACLU) who revolt against the law as an intrusion into children's personal rights. These groups consider the restrictive laws as ?a cogent and passionate critique of the war against young people's sexuality.? "

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