A subject's capacity for carrying out an intention to cause death or great bodily harm to others is known as what?

• A. Opportunity
• B. Intention
• C. Capability
• D. Premeditation

Answer: (A)

This question tests understanding of the difference between wanting to do something and being able to do it. A subject’s capacity to carry out an intended act—death or great bodily harm—is described as capability. It’s about actual ability: whether the person has the means, strength, resources, and circumstances to execute the act when the moment arises.

Intention is the mental resolve to accomplish the act, but without the power to carry it out, the plan can’t be acted on. Opportunity means having a chance or opening to commit the act, but again, the act also requires the capability to perform it. Premeditation refers to planning the act in advance, which is about the deliberation, not the person’s current ability. So the term that best captures the idea of having the actual ability to execute the intended harm is capability.