According to Article 22.01, what constitutes "assault"?

The correct interpretation of "assault" under Article 22.01 is the act of causing physical harm or threatening another person with imminent harm. This definition encompasses both acts of violence and the mere threat of violence. Specifically, the statute addresses the intent behind the actions and the potential for causing fear or actual injury to another individual. This understanding is critical because it underscores the legal emphasis not only on the results of actions (such as injury) but also on the intentions and threats that may lead to harmful situations.

This definition does not extend to threatening with a weapon, which pertains to specific laws regarding the use of firearms or weapons but does not fully capture the essence of assault as established in Article 22.01. Similarly, harming an animal, while it may be a criminal offense in other statutes, falls outside the scope of human-on-human assault defined here. The act of assaulting a police officer, while a serious crime and treated with particular gravity in law, is a separate charge and does not alter the foundational elements of what constitutes general assault. Therefore, the most accurate representation of assault is indeed the causing of physical harm or the act of threatening another person with imminent harm.