What constitutes a crime?

A crime is fundamentally understood as any act that is prohibited by law and punishable by the state. The correct answer highlights that crimes are specifically defined by legislation or constitutional law, which establishes legal standards for behavior within a jurisdiction. These laws determine what constitutes a crime and the associated penalties, ensuring that actions deemed harmful to society are addressed through legal consequences.

Many acts may be unlawful, but not all unlawful acts are classified as crimes without being codified in legislation or recognized under constitutional law. This makes the definition in the correct answer essential, as it reflects the legal framework that governs criminal behavior. It also encompasses a wide range of activities, from minor infractions to serious offenses, providing a comprehensive understanding of criminality within the legal system.

Violent acts, while they can certainly be classified as crimes, represent only a subset of what is included under the broader category of criminal acts. Similarly, acts that cause injury can also be of varying degrees of legality and severity and do not encompass all unlawful behaviors. Therefore, the precise definition established by law is what ultimately classifies an act as a crime.