Introduction to Business Law

The study of the law is a very difficult endeavor, which should only be a path walked by those who possess a serious student point of view as its concepts are most times difficult to grasp, not clearly of a black or white nature, as in an always “yes” or “no” answers, but a place where creative thought, and inspiration should abound as students travel the path to enlightenment of what we know to be The American Law System.

In speaking with one of my students, recently, the student commented that, upon first appearances, of the course, that he indeed would be challenged not only by the content of the course, but the EFFORT required to fully comprehend the process of study in learning American Law. This textbook is arranged, quite frankly for today’s American student, who appears to have lost the love of reading, and its importance in learning substantive information via the written word. Semester after semester, I have interacted, as a member of the higher education faculty community, with students who desire, within the American classroom to be “entertained” by members of the faculty, leading to a culture of “consumerism” among American students which is never to be facilitated, or commended as a way of business within higher education.

This textbook provides introduction to the system of American Law, its base “biblical” principles (The U.S. Constitution), and highly applicable statutes and information which provides to students, of any academic major, the foundation to not only function as a future business professional but perform highly as an upright citizen-leader within modern family settings. As such, this textbook is designed to provide a balance between the written word, for students still so inclined to such reading, and study, while also providing the new generation of students, the multimedia experience necessary which will keep students active, and learning, through the use of videos, conversational lectures, and charts and graphs which will assist you helping students to capture the essence of the American Law System, at the undergraduate level of study.

The course text is separated into three modules which will take even the most moderately of interested students through a learning experience which will prepare them for a path in any level of business study; and for those interested in studying the law at higher levels, say through an MBA, Juris Doctorate program, or both simultaneously, inspirational understanding of the law, and its career possibilities throughout.

1) Module #1 - Unit #1

Chapters Included:

1. Constitutional Foundations (U.S. Constitution (Bill of Rights) (Business Applications)

2. The U.S. Legal System

3. The U.S. Supreme Court

4. Civil Law Process

5. Criminal Law Process

Chapter Review

Practice Questions

Vocabulary

Live Links

2) Module #2 - Unit #2

1. Criminal Law (Crime Elements)

2. Crime & Business (Business Crimes/Examples Applicable Today)

3. Tort Law (Tort Actions – Elements) (Examples Applicable Today)

4. Negligence & Strict Liability (Business Applications)

5. Product Liability (Business Applications)

6. Contract Law

- Offers

- Forms of Acceptance

- Consideration

- Capacity & Legality

- Contractual Assent

- Contractual Writings (Statute of Frauds)

- Contractual Remedies

Chapter Review

Practice Questions

Vocabulary

Live Links

3) Module #3 - Unit #3

1. Sales

- UCC Article Two

- UCC Article Three

- UCC Article Four

2. Negotiable Instruments

- UCC Article Nine

3. Agency

4. Property

- The Nature of Property Law (Foundations) (U.S. & Europe)

- Real Property

- Landlord-Tenant Law

Chapter Review

Practice Questions

Vocabulary

Live Links

Each Module, as you can see from the layout provided, gives students a post chapter review of concepts, which for those students who chose not to read chapter content due to their busy schedules, provides an opportunity to “cut time” in intense study, just enough to be dangerous with the law, while allowing for C-level performance on course examinations. The Modules also feature Practice Questions, within each Module, to provide students real opportunities to test their knowledge of such concepts studied within the chapters in preparation for the All-Essay Examinations which are a hallmark of the L201 course. These questions are also useful in study group processes, which is often the best way to learn the law within a course of this nature from an undergraduate perspective.

The text also promotes engagement among students in the Business Law course, as it is very important for student learners to engage with one another, during the course semester, as student application and synthesis of the law will only become stronger due in no small part to this very simple to implement concept.

Improvement of student vocabulary is also promoted through use of this text, as such WILL be tested on course examinations three times during the semester. Student ability to utilize the glossary in the back of this text, and applied alacrity with such, will be crucial to student abilities to explain, to their course instructor, on examinations, real understanding of the legal concepts faculty work to impart within student knowledge bases during this course.

Finally, live links, to supplementary materials, which provide application of the law as studied provide students with the additional, supplementary study necessary which keep students continuingly learning, synthesizing, and applying the law for application across the business school curriculum, and in internship situations which will separate students from other, lesser educated candidates for professional positions in the world upon graduation.

The study of the law, in this course, is not relegated to one, or even two textbook situations; student learners in this courser must be willing to cross reference the various number of resources to which this text directs students to capture the full breadth of the study of the law at this level. Our goal with a reference text of this nature, is to inspire students, so inclined to deeper depths of learning, by placing in front of your students various possibilities to pursue knowledge, the way it is best acquired by your students. No textbook will ever be all things to all students, but through our effort via this text, it provides students a springboard to legal knowledge which will result in them becoming very “dangerous and proactive” thinkers as practitioners of business, in various majors, in the professional world, while inspiring those who would be inclined to study law at higher levels, the inspirational desire to learn more about the law and its various applications through additional course work.