The concept of mens rea, or "a guilty mind", is a fundamental principle in Western law and in countries with due process (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_rea).
Unfortunately, the Congress of the United States has created laws that do not require criminal intent; these laws potentially result in ordinary American citizens being subject to criminal penalties for laws they had no idea they might be breaking. Additionally, regulations passed by the executive branch often carry the weight of criminal law. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870374950457617271418460165...)
The Obama Administration should commit to reforming the criminal justice code to ensure that citizens who do not have criminal intent are not wrongfully prosecuted by their government.