Business Law Week 1

Course Intro and Learning Plan 1

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

COURSE

INTRODUCTION

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.

NAU

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

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

In Class Assignments (ICA)

Points: 20 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: 30 points each

Collaboration: Open book/note

Format: Hard copy and online

NAU

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: 200 points

Collaboration: Group participation is

required.

Format: Written and Oral

presentations

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

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.

• Students with perfect attendance in my courses have

received A’s at the rate of 100%.

• In other words, if you want to do well, make attendance to

this class a high priority for the next 11 weeks.

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

Grading Scale

Points Total Scale Grade Range

ICA-8 20 160 90%-A A 900-1000 pts

HW-8 20 160 80%-B B 800-899 pts

Tests-6 30 180 70%-C C 700-799 pts

Midterm 100 100 60%-D D 600-699 pts

Project 200 200

Final Exam 200 200

Total 1000

NAU

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).

Instructions for accessing grades online:

1. Go to ThinkWave.com

2. Click the "Login" button on the top right.

3. Then click "First Time? Start Here..." under ThinkWave 3.0.

4. Establish a Username and Password, and type in the Access Code (should have received it via email).

Use of ThinkWave in our course is for your convenience only; participation is voluntary.

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

Easytestmaker

• Secure, online testing program.

• Download results to pdf file

instantly.

Box.com

• Secure, online, “green”, cloud-based program.

• Access course materials via secure link.

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

Socrative

• Secure, online testing and feedback program.

• Anonymous; used for test preparation and strength assessment.

Wordpress Web Page

• Link to grades, docs, tests and video easily.

• www.naula3100.wordpress.com

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

Week Reading Assignments Due

Week 1 LP1 ICA1

Week 2 LP2 HW1, ICA2, Test 1

Week 3 LP3 HW2, ICA3, Test 2

Week 4 LP4 HW3, ICA4, Test 3

Week 5 LP5 HW4, ICA5, Test 4

Week 6 LPs 1-5 HW5 and Midterm (LP1-5)

Week 7 LP6 and LP9 HW6 and ICA6

Week 8 LP7 HW7, ICA7, Test 5

Week 9 LP8 and LP10 HW8, ICA8, Test 6

Week 10 Project Project Presentations

Week 11 LPs 1-10 Final Exam (LP1-10)

LEARNING PLAN 1The US Legal System

PURPOSE OF A LEGAL SYSTEM

Two competing goals:

Prevent chaos

Protect inalienable rights

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LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

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

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

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

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

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.

NAU

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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LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

SOURCES AND HIERARCHY

Common Law v. Codified Law

Civil Law v. Criminal Law

Substantive v. Procedural

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LA3100

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S. Johnston

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?

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

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”.

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

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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LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

ADVERSARY PROCESS: EVIDENCE

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LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston

Business Law Week 1

Course Intro and Learning Plan 1

NAU

LA3100

Week 1

S. Johnston