Business and the Law

Business and the Law is part of the Business Connection-a series of television-based courses designed to enhance a student's career potential in business. The first phase of the Business Connection consists of courses in business law (Business and the Law, 1989); business math (By the Numbers, 1990); entrepreneurship (Something Ventured, 1991); principles of selling (The Sales Connection, 1992); and, principles of management (Taking the Lead, 1993).

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

101) Law and the Business Person
Introduces the critical nature of the law in business transactions. The importance of businesspeople understanding the law is stressed, as well as the ramifications of not knowing the law.

102) Law and the Legal System
Introduces the general nature of law and the legal system by exploring the sources of the American legal system, classifications of law, the court system, and legal methodology.

103) Business Crimes and Business Torts
Looks into some business-related actions that can be classified as torts or crimes. Attention is given to criminal law as it relates to business, the objectives of tort law, theories of tort liability, intentional torts, negligence, and absolute liability.

104) The Nature of Contract Law
Develops the concept of contract law and its importance in business operations. The intent of a contract, how a contract arises, and the parties involved is discussed.

105) The Agreement
Looks at the basic contractual requirement of agreement or mutual assent, the nature of mutual assent, offer, and acceptance, and illustrates when parties are in agreement and circumstances where no agreement is reached.

106) Consideration
Focuses on the basic contractual requirement of consideration or condition and the elements that serve as the basis of a bargain. The binding character of consideration, present versus past consideration, adequacy and its exceptions, and the failure of consideration are described.

107) Contractual Capacity
Illustrates the meaning of capacity and the requirement that all parties must have the capacity to contract. The special situation of minors is highlighted.

108) Legal Purpose
Describes the basic requirements that contracts must have for legal purposes, the general principles of law, agreements affecting public welfare, gambling contracts, and regulation of business.

109) Genuineness of Assent
Explores the contractual requirement that a contract must have genuine assent and illustrates situations of unilateral and mutual mistakes, misrepresentations, concealment, fraud, undue influences, duress, and unconscionability.

110) Proper Form
Discusses the basic requirement for a contract to be in proper form and describes situations in which a contract must be in writing. The parole evidence rule and the statute of frauds are discussed.

111) Interpretation of Contracts
Focuses on the importance of interpretation in working with contracts, and the nature of judicial interpretation to determine intent, terms, and to resolve conflicts.

112) Rights of Third Parties
Introduces the addition of third parties to contractual agreements and what third party beneficiaries, incidental beneficiaries, assignments, and delegations are.

113) Performance and Discharge
Explores the methods by which a contract may be discharged, focusing on discharges by performance, by agreement, and by operation of law.

114) Contractual Remedies
Remedies Describes the nature and types of remedies available in the event of breach of contract focusing on damages, restitution, and specific performance.

115) Sales and Sales Contracts
Introduces the nature and scope of sales contracts, the processes of forming a sales contract, and the general obligations incurred.

116) Passage of Title and Risk of Loss
Depicts the nature of sales transactions and associated risks and property rights, focusing on insurable interest, damaged goods, sale on approval, future and present goods, and auction sales.

117) Performance of Sales Contract
Focuses on the buyer's and seller's obligations to perform on a sales contract, how the obligations arise, which party has the obligation to perform, and special problem situations which arise.

118) Warranties and Product Liability
Investigates the nature of warranties and product liability, introduces the seller's obligations after the sale, and focuses on the concepts of express, implied, and statutory warranties, warranty exclusions, and product liability.

119) Remedies for Breach
Looks into the remedies available to both the buyer and seller resulting from the breach of a sales contract.

120) Functions and Forms of Commercial Paper
Discusses the definition of commercial paper, and the functions, forms and uses of negotiable instruments and the parties involved.

121) Negotiability
Clarifies the formal requirements necessary for negotiability, writing and signature requirements, unconditional promise requirements, sum certain requirements, money requirements, determinable time requirements, and words of negotiability requirements.

122) Negotiations and Holders in Due Course
Explores the actual elements involved in transfer of negotiable instruments, including endorsements, holders, holders in due course, statutory limitations, liabilities of the parties, defenses available, and discharges.

123) Bank-Customer Relations
Explores the nature of bank-customer relations when working with commercial paper, customer rights and duties, bank rights and duties, and special problems which may arise.

124) Creation and Termination of Agency
Examines the creation, types, and restrictions of agency relationships, duties of agents to principal and principal to agent, and the means of terminating the relationship.

125) Principals and Agents
Illustrates the liability the agency creates for principals and agents, special situations of a disclosed, undisclosed, and partially disclosed principal, and a third party.

126) Real Property
Explores the concept and nature of real property and property rights. Acquisition, protection, rental or lease of real property as well as rights and duties of tenants and landlords, joint ownership, and transfer of rights by deed are discussed.

127) Personal Property
Delves into the concept and implications of personal property in business operations, principles of acquiring title by individuals, protection of personal property, and the bailment of personal property.

128) Government Regulation
Defines the nature and scope of government regulation, sources of government power, administrative agencies, regulation of competition, monopolies and prices.

129) Consumer and Environment Protection
Focuses on consumer concerns such as advertising, labels and packaging, selling methods, credit cards, contract terms, and environmental concerns such as pollution and environmental impact statements.

130) Labor and Employment Practices
Talks about the legal implications of employment practices, including classification of employment, terms of employment, unemployment compensation, job discrimination, and affirmative action.