Major Concepts/Content: Business Law provides the student with a survey of the American legal system. This course develops an understanding of law as applied to society and to the individual. Topics include the judicial system, contracts, warranties, guarantees, consumer protection, real property, landlord and tenant relationships, sole proprietorship, partnerships, and corporations.

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities will be provided in a classroom, in a lab utilizing individualized instruction, or by electronic learning services.  Textbook, workbook problems, business simulation projects, appropriate software, and electronic research may be used.

Major Evaluative Techniques: Students will be required to demonstrate an understanding of business law by passing objective and problem-solving tests and the successful completion of simulations, and projects.

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to

• Describe the development of our legal system, its history, and its place in our society.
• Demonstrate an understanding of legal rights and responsibilities.
• Explain the purposes and uses of a variety of common legal documents.
• Analyze the relationship between ethics and the law.
• Describe the sources of law, the court system structure, and the classifications of procedural/ substantive law.
• Analyze the relationships among contract law, law of sales, and consumer law.
• Analyze the role and importance of agency law and employment law.
• Explain the legal rules that apply to personal property and real property.
• Analyze the functions of commercial paper, insurance, secured transactions, and bankruptcy.
• Understand the legal implications of global electronic communications and information systems for business.
• Determine appropriateness of wills and trusts in estate planning.
• Explain the legal rules that apply to family law.
• Explain the legal rules that apply to environmental law and energy regulations.
• Use electronic media to research materials for case studies.