Which term refers to acts that are considered inherently illegal?

The term that refers to acts that are considered inherently illegal is "per se violations." This legal concept implies that certain actions are so fundamentally wrong that they are deemed illegal regardless of the circumstances or intent behind them. In the context of law, a per se violation typically involves clear breaches of statutes or regulations, where the act itself is prohibited without needing to demonstrate any further harmful impact or intent.

In contrast, other options do not capture this specific legal definition. For example, "inherent violations" is not a recognized legal term, while "statutory violations" refers to breaches of specific laws, and "contractual violations" pertains to the breaking of the terms of a contract, neither of which necessarily implies the act is inherently illegal in all circumstances. Thus, per se violations specifically denote that an action is illegal by its very nature, making it the correct answer.