Business Law I Syllabus for 2020-2021
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Instructor Information

Phone

Office Location

<p>BYRD 323E</p>

Office Hours

MONDAY:  11:00 AM-1:00 PM

TUESDAY:  11:00 AM-1:00 PM

THURSDAY:  9:00 AM- 10:30 AM

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

BUSI-2301-003 Business Law I

Prerequisites

Course Description

The course provides the student with foundational information about the U.S. legal system and dispute resolution, and their impact on business. The major content areas will include general principles of law, the relationship of business and the U.S. Constitution, state and federal legal systems, the relationship between law and ethics, contracts, sales, torts, agency law, intellectual property and business law in the global context.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Business Law, The First Course-Summarized-Case Edition  Fourteenth Edition, Miller ISBN-13: 9781337102056 no access code required

Supplies

Small – Medium 3 ring binder – Optional 

Student Performance

  • To learn the basic forms of business organizations;
  • To learn pertinent legal terminology;
  • To apply such terminology to legal topics relevant to business;
  • To understand the foundations of legal systems;
  • To understand the foundations contract law; and
  • To develop critical thinking for solving business law problems.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

I. Students and teachers have obligations to each other.

II. What I expect from students:

You will treat everyone in the class with the respect due all human beings.

You will do the work outlined in the syllabus on time.

You will not plagiarize or otherwise steal the work of others.

You will accept the consequences – good and bad – of your actions.

III. What students can expect from me:

I will treat you with the respect due all human beings.

I will treat you as an individual.

I will not discriminate against you on the basis of your identity or your viewpoints.

I will manage the class in a professional manner.

I will respond to student email within 24 hours, including weekends and holidays.

I will pursue the maximum punishment for plagiarism, cheating, and other violations of academic integrity.

I will keep careful records of your performance and progress.

I will make myself available to you for help and am willing to discuss anything even tangentially related to this class, college, law school, or the legal profession.

I will respect the fact that you have lives and commitments outside college, but I do not consider those to be excuses for not being prepared.

If I am notified in advance, I will make every reasonable effort to accommodate particular situations that may arise in your life.

I will make every reasonable effort to accommodate sudden, unexpected, extraordinary situations that are impossible for you to notify me about in advance.

I will maintain confidentiality concerning your performance.

I will provide you with professional support and write recommendations for you, if appropriate.

I will be honest with you.

Your grade will reflect the quality of your work and nothing else.

Grading Criteria

Grading:

Quizzes - 50%

Midterm- 20%

Drafting Exercise(s)/Case Analysis(s) - 20%

Discussion Board(s) - 10%

 

Quizzes:

•           There will be up to 6 Chapter Quizzes due each week.

•           Each Quiz will be 10 Multiple Choice Questions from the corresponding Chapter.

•           You only have one attempt at each Quiz

•           You must complete the Quiz once you open it. You cannot start a Quiz, exit out and come back. Once you exit the Quiz, your grade will be submitted as is. THUS, PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS AND DO NOT SUBMIT BEFORE YOU ARE FINISHED. 

•           The quizzes are due by 11:45 p.m. on the designated due date, according to the Calendar below unless otherwise specified.

•           There will be NO make-up quizzes given under any circumstances. If you do not complete the quiz by the due date, you will receive a ZERO. 

•           If your computer crashes or you have technical difficulties, email me immediately, and I will decide on a case-by-case basis the appropriate solution. I highly recommend using Firefox as your browser. If you consistently have technical problems, I will insist you take the quizzes at one of AC’s computer labs.

 

•          

Midterm Exam:

•           There will be a Midterm Exam.

•           There will be Multiple Choice or True/False Questions from Chapter 1 through Chapter 18.

•           You will have one attempt at the Midterm Exam.

•           You will have 3 hours to complete the Midterm Exam once you open it.

•           You must complete the Midterm Exam once you open it. You cannot start the Midterm Exam, exit out and come back. Once you exit the Midterm Exam, your grade will be submitted as is.

•     Drafting Assignment(s)/Case Analysis(s)/Alternative Problems/Chapter Assignment(s)  

      During the semester, you will be given Chapter Assignments.

Also during the semester, you will be given Drafting Assignment(s)/Case Analysis(s)/Alternative Problems.  Each will be accompanied by a Rubric outlining the assignment requirements. You must submit it by the designated due date.

 

•   Discussion Board(s)

•          During the semester you will be given discussion board assignment(s). You will be given the assignment and must complete and submit it by a certain due date.

Attendance

I will be monitoring your progress throughout and will answer any questions you have about the material. PLEASE ask me questions about the material.

Online Course

Calendar

 

SPRING I 2021

WEEK

DATES

READING FOR WEEK

ASSIGNMENTS / ACTIVITIES

1

Jan 19

 

 

UNIT ONE: The Legal Environment of Business

Chapter 1: Law and Legal Reasoning 

SYLLABUS QUIZ

DISCUSSION BOARD #1

 

 

Quiz - Chapter 1 (Due: 1/24)

Syllabus Quiz (Due: 1/24)

DISCUSSION BOARD (DUE: 1/24)

1

 


Chapter 2: Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution 

Chapter 3: Court Procedure 
 

Quiz - Chapter 2 (Due: 1/24)

Quiz – Chapter 3 (Due: 1/24)

1

 

Chapter 4: Business and the Constitution 

Chapter 5: Business Ethics 

 

Quiz - Chapter 4 (Due: 1/24)

Quiz - Chapter 5 (Due: 1/24)

2

Jan 26

UNIT TWO: Torts and Crimes

Chapter 6: Torts 

Chapter 7: Strict Liability and Products Liability 

 


Chapter 6 Case Analysis (Due: 1/31)

Chapter 7 Assignment (Due: 1/31) 

 

2

 

Chapter 8: Intellectual Property Rights 

Chapter 9: Internet Law, Social Media, and Privacy 

Chapter 10: Criminal Law and Cyber Crime 

 

Chapter 8 Assignment (Due 1/31) 

Chapter 9 Assignment (Due 1/31) 

Chapter 10 Assignment (Due: 1/31))

 

3

2/1

UNIT THREE: Contracts and E-Contracts

Chapter 11: Nature and Terminology 

Chapter 12: Agreement in Traditional and E-Contracts 

Chapter 13: Consideration 

Quiz - Chapter 11 (Due: 2/7)

Quiz - Chapter 12 (Due: 2/7)

Quiz- Chapter 13 (Due: 2/7)

3

Feb 1

Chapter 14: Capacity and Legality 

Chapter 15: Mistakes, Fraud, and Voluntary Consent 

Quiz-Chapter 14 (Due: 2/7)

Quiz-Chapter 15 (Due: 2/7)

3

 

 

Contract Drafting Exercise Given

Chapter 16:  The Writing Requirement and Electronic Records 

Chapter 17: Third Party Rights 

Chapter 18: Performance and Discharge in Traditional E-Contracts 

CONTRACT DRAFTING EXERCISE DUE 2/28

 

 

4

 

 

 

4

Feb 8

*MIDTERM EXAM 

MIDTERM (Due: 2/14)

5

Feb 15

UNIT FOUR: Domestic and International Sales Contracts

Chapter 19: Breach of Contract and Remedies 

Chapter 20: The Formation of Sales and Lease Contracts 

Chapter 21: Title, Risk and Insurable Interest 

 

 

Chapter 19 Assignment (Due:2/21)

Chapter 20 Assignment (Due: 2/21)

Chapter 21 Assignment (Due: 2/21)

5

 

Chapter 22: Performance and Breach of Sales and Lease Contracts 

Chapter 23: Warranties 

Chapter 24: International Law in a Global Economy 

DISCUSSION BOARD #2

Quiz- Chapter 22 (Due: 2/21)

Quiz- Chapter 23 (Due: 2/21)

Quiz- Chapter 24 (Due: 2/21)

DISCUSSION BOARD #2 (Due: 2/21)

6

Feb 22

UNIT FIVE: Agency and Employment

Chapter 25: Agency Formation and Duties 

Chapter 26: Agency Liability to Third Parties and Termination 

Quiz- Chapter 25 (Due: 2/28)

Quiz- Chapter 26 (Due: 2/28)

6

 

Chapter 27: Employment, Immigration and Labor Law 

Chapter 28:  Employment Discrimination and Diversity

DISCUSSION BOARD #3

Quiz- Chapter 27 (Due: 2/28)

Quiz- Chapter 28 (Due: 2/28)

Discussion Board #3 (Due: 2/28)

7

Mar 1

UNIT SIX: Business Organizations

Chapter 29: Sole Proprietorship and Franchises 

Chapter 30: Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships  

Chapter 29 Assignment (Due: 3/7)

 Chapter 30 Assignment (Due: 3/7)

7

 

Chapter 31: Other Organizational Forms for Small Businesses 

Chapter 32: Corporate Formation and Financing 


Quiz- Chapter 31 (Due:3/10)




 

8

Mar 8

Complete any remaining assignments

 

 

 

All quizzes and assignments are due by the end of day (11:45 PM) on the designated due date.

Additional Information

Midterm (2/14) due by end of day (11:45 pm) on the posted date.

Spring II 2021 - Important Dates

Jan 19

First Day of Classes 

Feb 14

Midterm Due (1:45 p.m.)

 

Mar 2

 

Last Day to Drop/Withdraw (Do not wait until the last day to get your form to me.  I need it at least two days in advance)

 

Mar 8

Final Week of Class

Syllabus Created on:

01/18/21 7:56 AM

Last Edited on:

01/20/21 3:53 PM