What is required for an act to be considered a voluntary act?

For an act to be considered a voluntary act, it is essential that it be consciously performed. This means that the individual must have awareness and control over their actions, indicating that they have made a deliberate choice to act in a certain way. A voluntary act is rooted in the concept of accountability in criminal law, where a person can only be held liable for actions that they intentionally initiated.

This conscious performance distinguishes voluntary acts from involuntary actions, such as reflexes or actions taken under duress. For example, if someone accidentally bumps into another person without any intent to cause harm, that action would not be categorized as voluntary. Thus, when evaluating whether an act meets the criteria of being voluntary, it is this element of conscious performance that is critical.