What term describes an action that constitutes a step toward the commission of an offense?

The term that describes an action that constitutes a step toward the commission of an offense is "attempt." In legal terms, an attempt occurs when an individual intends to commit a crime and takes substantial steps toward accomplishing it, even if the crime itself is not completed. For example, if someone plans a robbery and starts to carry out that plan by purchasing tools or staking out a location, these actions can be classified as an attempt.

In contrast, conspiracy involves an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, which means that simply planning an offense with others can also be an offense, but does not encapsulate the act of taking significant steps toward committing the crime itself. The other terms, "constitution" and "participation," do not pertain to the concept of steps taken towards committing an offense and are not relevant in this legal context.