This document provides an introduction to a business law course. It outlines the topics that will be covered in the course, including the US legal system, contracts, business organizations, and various areas of law important for operating a business. The course will use online materials and platforms for assignments, tests, and discussions. Grading will be based on in-class and homework assignments, tests, a midterm, final exam, and group project. The first learning plan introduces the US legal system, including the different sources of law and how laws are created at the federal, state, and local levels. It also discusses how the adversary court system functions in the US to resolve disputes.

1. Business Law Week 1
Course Intro and Learning Plan 1
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

2. COURSE
INTRODUCTION

3. Welcome to Business Law!
This course introduces you to fundamental legal principals affecting
business in the United States, including the sources and
classifications of laws in this country. You will learn to recognize and
apply basic legal concepts relating to contracts, torts, and product
liability, explore various forms of business organizations common in
the United States, and gain a fundamental understanding of select
legal topics critical to operating a business, including real property,
personal property, credit and secured transactions, agency and
employment and bankruptcy. By the end of the course, you will
have a basic understanding of the purpose and function of law, and
you will know how to research further topics of interest or need.
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

4. TEXTBOOK
Business Law Instructional Materials:
http://elora.national.edu/res/Files/eBooks/Current/LA3100EIM.pdf
Organization of Course
LP1: The US Legal System
LP2: Torts
LP3: Creating a Contract
LP4: Enforcing a Contract
LP5: The UCC
LP6: Business Entities and LP9:
Credit
LP7: Property
LP8: Agency and LP10: Estates
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

5. In Class Assignments (ICA)
Points: 20 participation points each
Collaboration: Group participation is
encouraged. Check answers by
accessing the testing links provided.
Format: Hard copy and online
Homework (HW)
Points: 20 participation points each
Collaboration: Group participation is
encouraged. Check answers by
accessing the testing links provided.
Outlines that are assigned as
homework will be anonymously
evaluated during class discussion.
Format: Hard copy and online
Tests (T)
Frequency: Most weeks
Points: 30 points each
Collaboration: Open book/note
Format: Hard copy and online
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

6. Midterm (M)
Date: Week 6
Points: 100 points
Collaboration: Group construct of
“Cheat Sheet” is encouraged.
Format: Hard copy and online.
Cumulative exam over LP1-5.
.
Final Exam (F)
Date: Week 11
Points: 200 points
Collaboration: Group construct of “Cheat Sheet” is
encouraged.
Format: Hard copy and online. Cumulative exam over
LP1-10.
Project (P)
Date: Week 10
Points: 200 points
Collaboration: Group participation is
required.
Format: Written and Oral
presentations
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

7. Makeup Tests
• Tests are scheduled on 9 of 11 weeks.
• Makeup tests must be taken under monitored conditions.
• This can be done during my office hour on Wednesdays.
• Only two makeup tests are permitted in a term.
• Students with perfect attendance in my courses have
received A’s at the rate of 100%.
• In other words, if you want to do well, make attendance to
this class a high priority for the next 11 weeks.
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

8. Grading Scale
Points Total Scale Grade Range
ICA-8 20 160 90%-A A 900-1000 pts
HW-8 20 160 80%-B B 800-899 pts
Tests-6 30 180 70%-C C 700-799 pts
Midterm 100 100 60%-D D 600-699 pts
Project 200 200
Final Exam 200 200
Total 1000
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

9. ThinkWave
• Secure, online, “green”, cloud-based program.
• Access grades, coursework, lectures, links and upload assignments.
• More efficient grading (grades updated weekly).
Instructions for accessing grades online:
1. Go to ThinkWave.com
2. Click the "Login" button on the top right.
3. Then click "First Time? Start Here..." under ThinkWave 3.0.
4. Establish a Username and Password, and type in the Access Code
(should have received it via email).
Use of ThinkWave in our course is for your convenience only; participation
is voluntary.
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

10. Easytestmaker
• Secure, online testing program.
• Download results to pdf file
instantly.
Box.com
• Secure, online, “green”, cloud-based program.
• Access course materials via secure link.
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

11. NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston
Socrative
• Secure, online testing and feedback program.
• Anonymous; used for test preparation and strength
assessment.
Wordpress Web Page
• Link to grades, docs, tests and video easily.
• www.naula3100.wordpress.com

12. NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston
Week Reading Assignments Due
Week 1 LP1 ICA1
Week 2 LP2 HW1, ICA2, Test 1
Week 3 LP3 HW2, ICA3, Test 2
Week 4 LP4 HW3, ICA4, Test 3
Week 5 LP5 HW4, ICA5, Test 4
Week 6 LPs 1-5 HW5 and Midterm (LP1-5)
Week 7 LP6 and LP9 HW6 and ICA6
Week 8 LP7 HW7, ICA7, Test 5
Week 9 LP8 and LP10 HW8, ICA8, Test 6
Week 10 Project Project Presentations
Week 11 LPs 1-10 Final Exam (LP1-10)

13. LEARNING PLAN 1
The US Legal System

14. PURPOSE OF A LEGAL SYSTEM
Two competing goals:
 Prevent chaos
 Protect inalienable rights
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

15. PURPOSE OF A LEGAL SYSTEM
1. Promote order and structure
2. Create government
3. Regulate public & private conduct
4. Establish rights
5. Protect individuals & businesses
6. Define obligations
7. Regulate commerce
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

16. BLAW WEEK 1
THE U.S. LEGAL SYSTEM
Laws in the United States are created by
many different sources, including:
 U.S. Constitution
 State Constitutions
 U.S. Statutes (Code)
 State Statutes
 Case Law
 County, city ordinances, HOAs, etc
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

17. THE US LEGAL SYSTEM
 The Constitution divides power among
Federal, state, and local authorities.
 Those powers are then divided between the
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.
 Many lower level governmental powers are
delegated to government agencies.
 Bill of Rights then “checks” governmental power
with inalienable rights.
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

18. THE US LEGAL SYSTEM
The Constitution amendments and federal
laws are superior to all other laws.
No state or local law may violate the
Constitution or Federal law. (see
Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the U.S.
Constitution).
 When is federal law supreme?
 When is state law supreme?
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

19. SOURCES AND HIERARCHY
 Common Law v. Codified Law
 Civil Law v. Criminal Law
 Substantive v. Procedural
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

20. ACCESSING LAWS AND LAWMAKERS
Laws and those who influence
laws are accessible now more
than ever.
 How do you research laws?
 How do you access
lawmakers?
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

21. ADVERSARY PROCESS
 In the U.S., the court system
can be used to resolve disputes.
 The adversary process allows
opposing parties to present
competing arguments.
 Some forum use “friendly
proceedings”.
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

22. ADVERSARY PROCESS
Burden of Proof
 The court system recognizes no
“universal” law for dispute
resolution, so as to maintain separation
of church and state.
 Instead, adversarial parties must
present evidence for their arguments
based upon different burdens of proof:
1. Beyond a reasonable doubt
2. More likely true than not true
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

23. ADVERSARY PROCESS: EVIDENCE
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston

24. Business Law Week 1
Course Intro and Learning Plan 1
NAU
LA3100
Week 1
S. Johnston