The material elements of a crime are the components that an individual must have committed in order for it to be legally considered a crime. The concept behind this is that certain acts can lead to criminal liability, even if they did not necessarily involve any malice or intent on the part of the perpetrator. In other words, when someone engages in behavior that meets all of the criteria of a criminal act, regardless of their intention or awareness at the time, they may still be held liable for their actions.