Revocable
This means that anyone can change their mind at any time and no longer consent to the sexual activity. If consent is revoked, sexual activity should immediately stop.
Never Assumed or Implied
Being nice, flirting, dating, or even hooking up in the past does not mean that consent can be assumed or is implied. Consent to sexual activity on one occasion is not consent to engage in sexual activity on another occasion. A current or previous dating or sexual relationship, by itself, is not sufficient to constitute consent. Even in the context of a relationship, there must be mutual consent to engage in sexual activity.
Free from Coercion, Threats and Intimidation
No one should ever be pressured into engaging in any form of sexual activity. Asking multiple times or repeatedly trying to coerce someone into having sex through either words or action is NOT consensual. If someone does not consent to sexual activity, responding with aggressive behavior, anger, threats, or guilt is NOT acceptable, neither is intimidation. Intimidation includes using social status, age difference, or discrepancies in power to try to compel consent.
Ongoing
Consent does not stop when sexual activity begins--it is not a one time question. Consent must be ongoing throughout sexual activity, particularly when sexual activity escalates. Consenting to kissing, for example, is not the same as consenting to oral sex.