California state law dating minors

However, the Court has upheld state laws that set the age of consent at 16 or 18 years old and have also ruled that people under the age of consent are legally incapable of consenting to sexual activity. The United States Supreme Court has not issued a definitive ruling on the age of consent.

The federal government has no direct role in setting the age of consent, but it does regulate certain aspects of sexual activity, such as child pornography and prostitution. In the United States, the age of consent is determined by each jurisdiction, and it typically ranges from 16 to 18 years old. It is a legal concept that varies from state to state and can differ depending on the specific circumstances of the sexual activity, such as whether the other person is in a position of authority or trust. The age of consent refers to the minimum age at which a person is considered legally competent to consent to sexual activity with another person. Are You a Lawyer? Grow Your Practice What Is the Age of Consent?