C-ID Descriptor
Business Law

None

(representing at least 80% of course coverage)

1. Introduction to law. Classifications (equity, common law, etc.). Sources of and reasons for law. Administrative agencies.
2. State and federal court systems, jurisdiction, methods for alternate dispute resolution. Progress of a case through the court system, role of judge, jury, lawyers, and the parties. The appellate process, types of motions, rulings, judgments, and enforcement of judgments.
3. Law and ethics, corporate social responsibility, stakeholder relationships, and ethical decision making.
4. Contracts under the common law and Uniform Commercial Code, classification, contract terms and elements, performance. Enforcement, breach, and remedies, third person beneficiary contracts, assignment of contracts.
5. Creation of an agency relationship, duties of agents, principals, liabilities (tort and contract) of principals, agents.
6. Torts distinguished from crimes, intentional torts, negligence, business torts, strict liability, tort reform, proposals.
7. Basics of criminal law and how crimes affect business.
8. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, corporate structure and governance.
9. Application of the U.S. Constitution to business activities.

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Explain the historical development of the law, operation of the court system and sources of commercial law.
2. Explain the social, political and ethical implications of the law and their application to actual and hypothetical business transactions.
3. Distinguish between torts and crimes and describe the purpose of criminal and tort law.
4. Evaluate when a promise is enforceable, the elements of a contract, performance, and the remedies available in the event of breach.
5. Distinguish between contracts governed by the Uniform Commercial Code and those governed by the common law of contracts.
6. Analyze cases. Identify issues and apply the appropriate legal rules to the fact patterns to reach defensible legal conclusions.
7. Demonstrate the ability to utilize the internet to research legal issues and utilize other computer skills to enhance effective business communications and presentations through the use of appropriate business and legal terminology. Analyze whether a source is a reliable source for legal information.
8. Perform legal research, to include evaluating and interpreting a court citation and locating a court case on an assigned topic.
9. Categorize the types of government agencies, powers and functions, controls through congressional action, executive action, and the courts.
10. Differentiate the relationship between state and federal systems, jurisdiction, and the importance of alternate dispute resolution methods to the participants
11. Demonstrate how cases progress through the court system from problem, to filing, to trial, and appeal.
12. Appraise the relationship between law and ethics.
13. Describe the various agency relationships and the duties and liabilities of agents and principals.
14. Describe the Constitutional basis for federal governmental regulation of business, including limits of government power.
15. Explain a corporation’s legal structure and differentiate it from other forms of business organization, the meaning of limited liability for the owners; describe the relationship of the various stakeholders.

1. Quizzes
2. Tests
3. Comprehensive final examination
4. Case brief submission
5. Papers (IRAC)

J. Mallor, A. Barnes, L. Bowers & A. Langvardt, Business Law: The Ethical, Global, and E-Commerce Environment, McGraw-Hill

D. Davidson, L. Forsythe & B. Knowles, Business Law, Principles and Cases in the Legal Environment, Aspen Publishers

R. Mann & B. Roberts, Smith and Roberson's Business Law, Cengage

K. Clarkson, R. Miller & F. Cross, Business Law: Text and Cases - Legal, Ethical, Global, and Corporate Environment, Cengage