Measurable Performance Objectives (MPOs)
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
- Discuss elements of our nation's legal system including court systems, criminal versus civil law, and procedures.
1. Discuss the need for a legal system.
2. List the primary sources of law in the United States.
3. Define precedent, and explain when a court might depart from a precedent.
4. Compare remedies at law and remedies in equity.
5. Outline the structure of the federal and state court systems in the United States.
6. Differentiate a trial court and an appellate court.
7. Describe the Bill of Rights and the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.
8. Discuss the constitutional clause that gives the federal government the power to regulate commercial activities among the various states.
9. Explain alternative ways to settle disputes between two or more parties other than by litigation (a lawsuit).
- Compare and contrast elements of tort law and criminal law.
1. Compare the procedures in a civil action and a criminal action.
2. Differentiate civil law and criminal law.
3. Distinguish between a private wrong and a public wrong.
4. Analyze the purpose of tort law.
5. Distinguish the categories of torts.
6. List and explain the elements of negligence.
7. Describe product liability, strict liability, and defenses to product liability.
8. Explain the two elements that must exist before a person can be held liable for a crime.
9. Explain how a corporation can be liable for crimes.
10. Differentiate the crimes that harm businesses from the crimes that are committed by businesses.
11. Explain the constitutional safeguards that exist to protect persons accused of crimes.
- Describe the elements of a contract, and apply those elements to example cases.
1. Outline the requirements of a valid contract.
2. Distinguish the various classifications of contracts.
3. Explain the requirements of a valid offer and acceptance, the first important elements in binding contract.
4. Summarize the various forms of consideration, when consideration is necessary to form a binding contract, and the exceptions to the rule requiring the presence of consideration in a contract.
5. Determine what makes parties competent to enter into a contract.
6. Distinguish between a legal and an illegal agreement and the consequences of entering into an illegal agreement.
7. Explain the types of contracts that are frequently required to be in writing to be enforceable, and point out the effects of failure to comply with the written requirement.
- Consider the legal issues involved when something goes wrong with a contract and apply those issues to example cases.
1. Discuss the circumstances under which parties to a contract may transfer their rights and obligations.
2. Summarize the ways in which contracts may be ended and the various remedies available to the parties for breach of contract.
3. Distinguish between compensatory damages and consequential damages.
- Compare and contrast the common law theory of contracts with Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).
1. Explain the ways in which the UCC has changed the common-law rules of contracts, especially as they relate to offer and acceptance, consideration, and the writing requirements for contracts under the statute of frauds.
2. Discuss the rights and duties of the buyer and seller in a contract for the sale of goods.
3. Differentiate warranty of title, express warranty, and implied warranty.
6. Analyze the agent-principal relationship, including liability of agent and principal to third parties.
1. Describe the ways in which employer-employee and principal-agent relationships may be created.
2. Explain the liability of the employer or principal and the employee or agent within the relationship.
3. Compare and contrast employee and independent contractor.
4. Analyze the employment-at-will doctrine.
5. Explain federal statutes governing working hours, wages, health and safety in the workplace, and federal equal employment opportunity laws.
7. Distinguish between real and personal property, and discuss parties’ rights and obligations under bailment.
1. Distinguish between real and personal property.
2. Describe the various ways in which real property and personal property can be acquired and transferred.
3. Describe the elements necessary for an effective gift.
4. Outline a bailment, list the characteristics of a bailment, and identify the parties to a bailment.
8. Analyze and make business decisions applying ethical standards.
1. Differentiate between legal and ethical.
2. Explain the relationship between business ethics and the law.
3. Evaluate business decisions to determine if they reflect ethical and legal standards.