Standard

MSD 102 - LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR SUPERVISORS

Course Description

Develops a working knowledge of the legal environment of business necessary for supervisors. Topics include: the legal system and public policy making, administrative law and business contracts, individual accountability and liability, debtor-creditor relationships, interpreting and understanding federal protective laws relating to consumers and competition, the Uniform Commercial Code, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations, and employee protective laws.

Competency Areas	Hours
Legal System and Public Policy Making	Class	5
Administrative Law and Business Contracts	D. Lab	0
Individual Accountability and Liability	P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Debtor-Creditor Relationships	Credit	5
Consumer and Competition Federal Protective Laws
Uniform Commercial Code
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
OSHA
Employee Protective Laws

Prerequisite:	Provisional admission
Corequisite:

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
LEGAL SYSTEM AND PUBLIC POLICY MAKING		15	0	0
The legal process	Describe the rationale for the study of laws that impact the operation and management of business.
	Define the functions of law.
	Contrast various theories of law and governance.
	Identify the classifications of law.
	Discuss the process by which laws are formulated and tested.
Ethics and the law	Identify the potential sources of business ethics.
	Discuss the responsibilities of business to community and society.
	Discuss ethics as an alternative to regulation.
	Describe the nature of ethical dilemmas.
The American court system	Describe the adversary system, court organization and hierarchy, jurisdiction, and venue.
	Discuss the procedural aspects of a lawsuit, a criminal trial, and an appeal.
The American Constitution and the Bill of Rights	Discuss the Constitution's provisions for judicial review and the powers granted to federal and state government.
	Discuss preemption and the problem of federalism.
	Describe Constitutional protections of economic freedom.
	Analyze the contents and functions of the articles contained in the Bill of Rights.
	Describe the effects of amendments to the Constitution that pertain to criminal proceedings, due process, and equal protection.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND BUSINESS CONTRACTS		5	0	0
Administrative agencies	Discuss the organization and role of federal and state regulatory agencies.
	Describe recent trends in the scope of control and delegation of powers exhibited by governmental regulatory agencies, such as rule making and adjudication and investigation.
	Describe available remedies for improper administrative actions.
Contract law	Describe briefly the development of American contract law.
	List the five elements of a contract.
	Discuss the legal provision for assignments and delegations, contract defenses, performance measures, and contract remedies.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND LIABILITY		10	0	0
Tort law	Explain the purpose of tort law. Define intentional torts, negligence, and strict liability.
Property, patent, and copyright laws	Define the nature of ownership.
	Distinguish between real and personal property.
	Summarize the basic provision of landlord/tenant law.
	Summarize the laws pertaining to computer use and information access.
The law of agency	List the type of agencies.
	Describe how agencies are created and terminated.
	Discuss the doctrine of respondeat superior.
	Summarize the provisions of the "employment-at-will" law.
The law of business associations	Describe the forms that businesses assume.
	Contrast the laws regarding partnerships, corporations, and nonprofit organizations.
	Discuss dissenters' rights.
DEBTOR-CREDITOR RELATIONSHIPS		2.5	0	0
Debt collection	Define the legal limits of debt collection practices.
Credit regulation	Discuss federal regulations concerning credit.
Bankruptcy	Describe the provisions of bankruptcy laws.
CONSUMER AND COMPETITION FEDERAL PROTECTIVE LAWS		7.5	0	0
Consumer protection	Summarize the rights of consumers under federal and state consumer protection laws.
Product liability and product safety	Summarize a business' responsibilities under product safety and liability statutes.
Deceptive trade practices	List examples of deceptive trading techniques.
List all of the entities harmed by deceptive trade practices.	Summarize common law protection from deceptive trade practices.
	Describe the purposes of the Federal Trade Commission.
Antitrust legislation	Describe the goals and purposes of antitrust legislation.
	Discuss the antitrust statutes and common enforcement practices.
	Summarize the provisions of Sections One and Two of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
	Define monopolization.
	Discuss the provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act.
	Summarize the provisions of international antitrust law.
UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE		1	0	0
Purposes	Describe the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code.
TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT		2.5	0	0
Discrimination law	Describe the constitutional limits on discrimination.
	Summarize federal legislation prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit.
OSHA		3	0	0
Purposes and functions of OSHA	Describe the responsibilities and powers of OSHA.
M.S.D.S.	List the types of information contained in a material safety data sheet (M.S.D.S.).
Effects on business practices	Describe a manufacturer's responsibilities under OSHA's labeling regulations.
EMPLOYEE PROTECTIVE LAWS		3.5	0	0
Discrimination	Review the employment nondiscrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act.
Labor	Summarize wage and hour, child labor, and other legislation concerning labor.
	Summarize the provisions of the Wagner, Taft-Hartley, Landum-Griffin, and Railway Labor Acts.

Suggested Resources

Books

Davidson, D. V., et al. (1990). Business law: Principles and cases (3rd ed.). Boston: Kent.

Davidson, D. V., & Jesperson, R. R. (1986). The American legal system. Boston: Kent.

McGuire, C. R. (1989). The legal environment of business: Commerce and public policy (2nd ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill.