Which term means to have physical possession or otherwise to exercise dominion or control over tangible property?

• A. Actual possession
• B. Constructive possession
• C. Possess
• D. Affirmative defense

Answer: (C)

Possess is the action that means you have or exercise control over property. In legal terms, possession covers both actual possession—physical holding of the item—and constructive possession—control over it without physically possessing it. The question seeks the general term for having possession or control, and that’s exactly what possess conveys: the act of holding or ruling over tangible property. The other options point to specific forms of possession or to a separate legal concept (an affirmative defense), so they don’t capture the broad sense of “having possession or controlling property” the way possess does.