Course Syllabus – Business Law
Assignment Code
12054
Course Description:
The objective of the class is to give the students understanding of the court system at
the local, state, and national level. Students will also gain an understanding of contract
law, their rights and responsibilities as citizens, utilization of financial transactions,
employment and agency relationships, and regulations governing different types of
business organizations. Students will be assigned daily work including vocabulary,
court cases, and general questions on the material. We will test at the end of every
chapter with a semester test to be taken at the end of the semester. Students will be
responsible for assignments the day after they are assigned with the exception of
sickness. Notes will be provided if the student is gone for the days of notes.
Topics Covered:
Court Systems, Sources of Law, Criminal Law, Tort Law,
Contract Law, Consumer Law, Employment Law
Prerequisites:
None
Length:
Semester Course - 50-minute period
Grade Level:
11th & 12th Grade
Instructional Philosophy:
Teachers will use a variety of learning strategies focusing on problem-solving, critical thinking,
and student engagement. Students will be expected to meet the course standards by
demonstrating their understanding of the basic concepts of each topic area. Students will be
expected to complete all assignments with high quality effort. Discussion of all
material will be completed before assignments are given. Most classroom problems
will be completed together, with some of work completed on their own. Timelines
will be given on when work is to be completed. Assessment will be daily work,
quizzes, and tests over every chapter with a semester test at the end of each
semester.
Core Technical Standards:
BL.1.1 Compare and contrast the difference between ethics and the law and identity
consequences of unethical and illegal conduct.
BL.1.2 Analyze the origin of today’s law and the role and function of the local, state
and federal court systems.
BL.1.3 Distinguish between procedural law and substantive law.
BL.2.1 Differentiate among the categories of criminal law, the different types of
business crimes, and the available penalties.
BL.2.2 Differentiate among the categories of tort law and describe the remedies
available.
BL.3.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of the contractual relationship and
identify the elements of a valid contract.
BL.3.2 Illustrate the methods by which a contract may be terminated or discharged.
BL.3.3 Compare and contrast law of sales and consumer laws.
BL.4.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of the employer-employee
relationship, including independent contractors.
BL.4.2 Identify the employee rights.
Instructional Delivery Plan:
Delivery Method: Instruction will consist of activities and projects, presentations,
group work, lecture, discussion, reading, writing, self-assessment, and the use of
technology. Cases will be incorporated into the course.
Student Work: Students will work independently on tests, quizzes, and
performance task. Student can work independently or in teams on discussion,
projects, and presentations of the projects.
Community Involvement: Guest speakers from law offices and the legal
community, if available, will be brought in throughout the course. Trips to courts
may be incorporated into the course. Students will also use community resources
to complete cases and group projects.
Grading Scale:
A
100-94
Excellent Work, all assignments completed and shows
understanding of work
B
93-86
Good Work, all assignments completed and shows understanding
of work
C
85-78
Decent work, missing a few assignments and shows understanding
of most work, missing effort
D
77-70
Borderline Work, missing assignments and late assignments, basic
understanding of most work, lack of effort
F
69 and below
Minimal Effort, many missing assignments, understanding is below
basic, does not meet expectations.
Grading Distribution:
Students will be graded based on total points. Distribution will be as followed
(approximate):
30%
Tests and Quizzes
10%
Court Cases
55%
Daily Work
5%
Power Point
Chapter Descriptions:
Book-Law for Business and Personal Use-SouthWestern
Unit 1-Chapters 1-6-Law, Justice, and You
Court system, laws, ethics, Constitutional rights
Chapter 1- Our Laws and Legal System, Types of Laws
Objectives- Stages in the growth of law, Common Law vs. Positive Law, English
Common Law, Constitutions, Statutes, Case Law, Criminal vs. Civil Law, Procedural
vs. Substantive Law
Chapter 2-Ethics in Our Law, Reasoning about right or wrong, Ethics related to law
Objectives- Reasoned decisions, Impartiality, Business ethics, Ethical reasoning based
on consequences, Fundamental ethical rules, avoiding punishment
Chapter 3-Constituional Rights, Amendments, Balance of power
Objectives- The Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, The Bill of Rights,
Civil Rights, Due Process, Peripheral Rights, Other amendments, Branches of
Government, Changing the constitution, Our form of government, Powers of the
federal government
Chapter 4- The Court System, Dispute resolution and the courts, Federal Court
System, State Court Systems
Objectives- Levels of courts, Federal courts, U.S. Supreme Court, State Court system,
Probate courts
Chapter 5- Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure
Objectives- Elements of a crime, Criminal conduct, Felony, Misdemeanor, Rights
when arrested, Procedural and substantive defenses
Chapter 6- Personal Injury Laws, Offenses against individuals, intentional torts,
negligence, strict liability, civil procedure
Objectives- crimes vs. torts, Common intentional torts, Negligence, strict liability,
Collection for a tort victim, Civil case tried
Unit 2-Chapters 7-14-Fundamentals of Contracts
Offer and Acceptance, Legality of Contracts, Written Contracts, Duties
Chapter 7- Offer and Acceptance, creation of offers, termination of offers,
acceptances
Objectives- Contracts and requirements, Intent to create a legal obligation, complete
and clear and communicated, Revocation , time stated in offer, reasonable length of
time, rejection, counteroffer, Death of insanity, options, firm offer, Acceptance,
unilateral and bilateral contracts
Chapter 8- Genuine Agreement, duress and undue influence, mistake,
misrepresentation, and fraud
Objectives- Genuine agreement and rescission, Undue influence, relationship and
unfair influence, recognized and induced unilateral mistakes, Mistake of subject
matter and law, Untrue statement of fact, misrepresentation (intentional, reckless,
concealment), Remedies for fraud
Chapter 9- Mutual consideration, Legal Value, Consideration not required
Objectives- Act, Forbearance, Promise, Legal Value, Adequacy, nominal
consideration, Illusory Promises, existing duty, Mutual gifts, Past performance,
Statute of limitations, Uniform Commercial Code
Chapter 10- Capacity Rights, Limitations on capacity rights
Objectives- Capacity rights, Minors, emancipation, Mental incapacity, intoxication,
disaffirmed, Misrepresenting your age
Chapter 11- Legality of Contracts, enforceability of of illegal agreements
Objectives- Gambling, maximum rate of interest, agreements that obstruct legal
procedures, Agreements that affect marriage negatively, price fixing, resale price
maintenance, common law, restitution, UCC
Chapter 12- Written Contracts, Statutes of Fraud, Interpretation of Contracts
Objectives-Perjury, Statute of frauds, executed contracts, executory contracts,
Multiple writings, Content requirements of contracts, Contract for sale over $500,
Contract to sell an interest in real property, Contracts more than one year to complete,
Contract for which the consideration is marriage, Parol evidence rule
Chapter 13 - Contractual Duties - Performance of Duties, Transfer of Contractual
Obligations
Objectives-Assignable Rights, Non-assignable Rights, Contractual duties, delegation
of duties, Obligor's breach and Liability, Discharge, Breach of Contract, Cancellation,
rescission, accord and satisfaction, Substitution, novation, impossibility of
performance, Alteration, Legal tender
Chapter 14- Breach of Contract, Denial of Remedies for Breach of Contract
Objectives-Remedy, Restitution, Money damages, Subject Matter Unique, Waiver,
Statute of Limitations, Bankruptcy
Unit 3-Chapters 15-18-Sales and Other Contractual Situations, Sales Contracts,
Ownership and Risk, Consumer Protection, Marriage
Chapter 15- Sales Contracts, Sales, Ownership, Special Rule For Sales Contracts
Objectives-Sale of Goods under the UCC, Contracts for Personal Services, Bill of
Sale, Unconscionable, Ownership, Transfer of Ownership and Possession, Statute of
Frauds with sales contracts, Goods received and accepted, Buyer pays for goods and
seller accepts payment,
Chapter 16 - Ownership transfer, Risk of Loss and Insurable Interest
Objectives-Authorized Persons, Buyers in a sale induced by fraud, Holders of
Negotiable Documents of title, Merchants With Possession of sold goods, Seller
delivers goods to their destination, Seller delivers document of title, Buyer takes
possession at place of sale, Seller ships goods by carrier CIF, Goods held by bailee,
Cash and Carry Sales, Sales on Credit, COD, Sale or Return, Sale on Approval,
Auction, Bulk Transfer
Chapter 17-Consumer Protection, Federal protection, Product Liability, Warranties
Objectives-Consumer, Caveat emptor, class actions, cease-and-desist, restitution,
Safety Standards, Unfair trade practices, False and misleading advertising, Lotteries
and confidence games, bait and switch, Unfair pricing and service, mislabeled goods,
Used articles sold as new, FTC Guidelines, Caveat venditor, Licensing laws,
Remedies available to injured consumers, Privity of contract, Recovering damages,
express and implied warranties, Puffing, Implied warranties, Warranties implied by
law, Exclusion of warranties
Chapter 18-Legal consideration in divorce and marriage
Objectives-Marriage, State Marriage requirements, Common-law marriages, Marital
consortium, Parenthood rights and responsibilities, Prenutial agreement, Ending
marriages legally, Void marriage and voidable marriages, Anulment, Bigamist, Nofault divorce, Separation, Child custody and support, Alimony
Unit 4-Chapters 19-24-Property
Chapter 19-Classes of Property, Acquiring property, and forms of ownership
Objectives - Real and personal Property, Copyrights and Trademarks, Patents,
Acquiring ownership by gifts, accession, Occupancy, inheritance, finding, Ownership
and Co-Ownership
Chapter 20- Bailment Relations, Duties in Bailments, Common Bailments
Chapter 21 - Real Property, Nature and Transfer of Ownership, Other right in your
land
Surface Rights, Right to Air Space, Mineral Rights, Water Rights, Attachment,
Adaption, Intention, Fee Simple Absolute, Conditional Estates, Life Estates, Deed,
Nonfreehold estates, Inheritance, Adverse Possession, Dedication or Eminent
Domain, Licenses, Easements, Restrictive Coventants, Zoning Ordinances, Invalid
zoning, Spot Zoning, Trespassers, Licensee, Invitee
Chapter 22 - Renting Realty, types of leases, Tenant's Duties and rights, Landlord's
Rights and Duties
Objectives- What is a lease, Periodic Tenancy, Tenancy for years, Sufferance, Will,
Right of Possession, Right to use the property, Right to assign the lease or to sublet,
Duty to pay rent, Duty to take care of property, Torts duty, Right to the rent, Right to
regain the realty and fixtures, Duty to maintain the premises, Torts duty, Duty to pay
property taxes, Fair Housing Acts Duties, Duty to Voluntary Termination
Chapter 23 - Insuring Your Future, Insurance and How it works, Property and
casualty coverage, Life and social insurance
Objectives-Basic Insurance Terms, Life, Fire, Casualty, Social, Marine, Inland
Marine, Fidelity and Surety Bonding Insurance, Insurable Interest, Liability
Insurance, Automobile Insurance, Collision Insurance, Collision and Comprehensive
Insurance, Uninsured and underinsured motorists, No-Fault Insurance, Health
Insurance, deductibles, claims, Dependants, Types of coverages
Chapter 24 - Wills, Estates, and Trusts, Legal Consequences of Death
Objectives-Death and the Law, Death with a will and without a will, People involved
with a will, Amendments to wills, Types of wills, Revocation of a will, Procedure for
estate resolution, Distributions without a will, No inheritors, Creation of trusts, Types
of trusts
Unit 5-Chapters 25-30-The Law of Jobs
Chapter 25 - Creation of Agency
Objectives-Agency Relationship, Principal's capacity, Expressed and implied grant of
authority, Power of attorney
Chapter 26 - Operation of Agency
Objectives-Agent's Duties, Liabilities in agency, How agent terminated
Chapter 27- Employment Contracts, Creation of employment contracts, Employer's
basic duties, Termination of employment contracts
Objectives-People involved with employment contracts, Independent contractors,
Express and implied agreements, Employee duties, Employer's duties to employees,
Fair Labor Standards, Duties to minors, Military service and voting, Employer's duty
to those injured by employees, Types of employment contracts, Unemployment
Compensation
Chapter 28 - Unions
Objectives-History of Labor Laws, State and federal regulation on employment,
Establishing unions, Union certification, collective bargaining, Unfair practices,
Strikes, boycotts
Chapter 29 - Employment Discrimination - Illegal Employment Discrimination,
Proving Illegal Discrimination, Specific Laws Making Unjustified Discrimination
Illegal
Objectives- Unjustified Discrimination, Types of Unjustified Discrimination, The
Scope of Protection, How Can Unequal Treatment be Proved, What is Disparate
Impact, Proving Pattern and Practice of Discrimination, Sexual Harassment,
Legislation Prohibiting Discrimination
Chapter 30 - Employee Injuries
Objectives-Job safety, recovering from negligence, Worker's compensation, injuries
covered and not covered, OSHA
Unit 6-Chapters 31-34-Forms of Business Organization
Chapter 31 - Forms of Business Organizations (Covered in General Business)
Chapter 32 - Creating, Running, and Terminating a Corporation (Covered in General
Business)
Chapter 33 - Forms of Organization for Small Business
Objectives-Basics of Limited Partnership, S Corporations, LLC's, LLP's
Chapter 34- Government Regulation of Business
Objectives-Needs of administrative agencies, Agencies and their regulation,
Limitations on agency powers
Unit 7-Chapters 35-39-Borrowing Money and Paying Bills
Chapter 35- Commercial Paper, Basic Types, Specialized Forms
Objectives - Defining Commercial paper, Types of Commercial Paper, Drafts,
Checks, Notes, CD's, Types of Checks, Money Orders
Chapter 36 - Negotiability and Negotiation of Commercial Paper, Requirements,
Proper Endorsement and Negotiation
Objectives - Why negotiation is important and what it is, How commercial paper is
transferred, Endorsements, Accommodation party
Chapter 37 - Rights of Holders of Commercial Paper
Objectives-Collection and discharge of commercial paper, Holder in due course,
Limited defenses in collection, universal defenses, Rights and duties with EFT
Chapter 38 - Secured and Unsecured Credit Obligations
Objectives - What are debtors and creditors, Secured transactions, Collateral,
Repossession, Secured interests, Tangible and intangible property, Terminating
secured transactions
Chapter 39 - Debtors, Creditors, and Bankruptcy, Legal Protections of Creditors,
Legal Protection of Debtors and Use of Credit Cards, Bankruptcy
Objectives - Laws Protecting Creditors, Laws Protecting Debtors, Special Laws For
Credit Cards, What is Bankruptcy, Procedure for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy