Electrical shears have a housing with an electric drive motor arranged in the housing. A motor shaft is connected to the drive motor. Blades are provided and at least one of the blades is connected to the motor shaft. The motor shaft acts on the at least one blade for opening or closing the blades. A manual actuating member with a guide member is guided in a translatory motion, wherein the guide member has a length extending in a direction of a straight actuating travel path of the manual actuating member. A control unit is provided that controls the drive motor as a function of an electric control signal, wherein the electric control signal represents a mechanical position of the manual actuating member.