LA3100 Week 1 Lecture
Transcript of LA3100 Week 1 Lecture
Welcome to Business Law!
This course introduces you to fundamental legal principals affecting business in the United States, including the sources and classifications of laws in this country. You will learn to recognize and apply basic legal concepts relating to contracts, torts, and product liability, explore various forms of business organizations common in the United States, and gain a fundamental understanding of select legal topics critical to operating a business, including real property, personal property, credit and secured transactions, agency and employment and bankruptcy. By the end of the course, you will have a basic understanding of the purpose and function of law, and you will know how to research further topics of interest or need.
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LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston
TEXTBOOK
Business Law Instructional Materials:
http://elora.national.edu/res/Files/eBooks/Current/LA3100EIM.pdf
Organization of Course
LP1: The US Legal System
LP2: Torts
LP3: Creating a Contract
LP4: Enforcing a Contract
LP5: The UCC
LP6: Business Entities and LP9:
Credit
LP7: Property
LP8: Agency and LP10: Estates
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LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston
In Class Participation (ICA)
Points: 10 participation points each
Collaboration: Group participation is
encouraged. Check answers by
accessing the testing links provided.
Format: Hard copy and onlineHomework (HW)
Points: 20 participation points each
Collaboration: Group participation is
encouraged. Check answers by
accessing the testing links provided.
Outlines that are assigned as
homework will be anonymously
evaluated during class discussion.
Format: Hard copy and online
Tests (T)
Frequency: Most weeks
Points: 50 points each
Collaboration: Open book/note
Format: Hard copy and online
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LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston
Midterm (M)
Date: Week 6
Points: 100 points
Collaboration: Group construct of
“Cheat Sheet” is encouraged.
Format: Hard copy and online.
Cumulative exam over LP1-5.
.
Final Exam (F)
Date: Week 11
Points: 200 points
Collaboration: Group construct of “Cheat Sheet” is
encouraged.
Format: Hard copy and online. Cumulative exam over
LP1-10.
Project (P)
Date: Week 10
Points: 160 points
Collaboration: Group participation is
required.
Format: Written and Oral
presentations
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LA3100
Week 1
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Makeup Tests
• Tests are scheduled on 9 of 11 weeks.
• Makeup tests must be taken under monitored conditions.
• This can be done during my office hour on Wednesdays.
• Only two makeup tests are permitted in a term.
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LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston
ThinkWave
• Secure, online, “green”, cloud-based program.
• Access grades, coursework, lectures, links and upload assignments.
• More efficient grading (grades updated weekly).
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LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston
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LA3100
Week 1
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Wordpress Web Page
• Link to grades, docs, tests and video easily.
• www.naula3100.wordpress.com
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LA3100
Week 1
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Week Reading Assignments Due
Week 1 LP1 ICP1
Week 2 LP2 HW1, ICP2, Test 1
Week 3 LP3 HW2, ICP3, Test 2
Week 4 LP4 HW3, ICP4, Test 3
Week 5 LP5 HW4, ICP5, Test 4
Week 6 LPs 1-5 HW5 and Midterm (LP1-5)
Week 7 LP6 and LP9 ICP7
Week 8 LP7 HW7, ICP8, Test 7
Week 9 LP8 and LP10 HW8, ICP9, Test 8
Week 10 Project Project Presentations
Week 11 LPs 1-10 Final Exam (LP1-10)
PURPOSE OF A LEGAL SYSTEM
Two competing goals:
Prevent chaos
Protect inalienable rights
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PURPOSE OF A LEGAL SYSTEM
1. Promote order and structure
2. Create government
3. Regulate public & private conduct
4. Establish rights
5. Protect individuals & businesses
6. Define obligations
7. Regulate commerce
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LA3100
Week 1
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BLAW WEEK 1
THE U.S. LEGAL SYSTEM
Laws in the United States are created by many different sources, including:
U.S. Constitution
State Constitutions
U.S. Statutes (Code)
State Statutes
Case Law
County, city ordinances, HOAs, etc
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THE US LEGAL SYSTEM
The Constitution divides power among Federal, state, and local authorities.
Those powers are then divided between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.
Many lower level governmental powers are delegated to government agencies.
Bill of Rights then “checks” governmental power with inalienable rights.
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LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston
THE US LEGAL SYSTEM
The Constitution amendments and federal
laws are superior to all other laws.
No state or local law may violate the
Constitution or Federal law. (see
Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the U.S.
Constitution).
When is federal law supreme?
When is state law supreme?
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SOURCES AND HIERARCHY
Common Law v. Codified Law
Civil Law v. Criminal Law
Substantive v. Procedural
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ACCESSING LAWS AND LAWMAKERS
Laws and those who influence laws are accessible now more than ever.
How do you research laws?
How do you access lawmakers?
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ADVERSARY PROCESS
In the U.S., the court system can be used to resolve disputes.
The adversary process allows opposing parties to present competing arguments.
Some forum use “friendly proceedings”.
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ADVERSARY PROCESS
Burden of Proof
The court system recognizes no “universal” law for dispute resolution, so as to maintain separation of church and state.
Instead, adversarial parties must present evidence for their arguments based upon different burdens of proof:
1. Beyond a reasonable doubt
2. More likely true than not true
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ADVERSARY PROCESS: EVIDENCE
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