What is required to establish conspiracy?

To establish a conspiracy, it is essential to demonstrate that there is an agreement between two or more parties to commit a crime, along with an overt act taken in furtherance of that agreement. This means that not only must there be a clear intention to commit the illegal act, but there must also be some action or step that indicates that the conspirators are moving towards the execution of their plan.

The requirement for an overt act serves as a crucial element in conspiracy law, as it ensures that mere discussions or intentions to commit a crime are not enough to charge someone with conspiracy. The overt act does not necessarily have to be illegal in itself; it can be any step taken that furthers the conspiracy. This aspect helps to demarcate serious conspiratorial intentions from mere idle talk or planning that does not progress towards an actual crime.

The other options presented do not capture the complete legal definition of conspiracy. A single person agreeing to commit a crime does not fulfill the requirement of a conspiracy since conspiracy law involves multiple parties. Merely having an agreement and a completed crime fails to account for the critical preliminary steps that characterize conspiracy. Lastly, a verbal agreement without any action does not contain any indication of commitment to the conspiracy, which is why the overt act is