Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Law & Jurisprudence

Enhance your vocabulary with these 80 essential words, complete with clear and concise definitions.

The Middle Ages and Commercial Ethics

During the Middle Ages, the Christian church attempted to enforce moral commands adverse to commercial transactions. The taking of interest for loans of money was considered income without true work, deemed sinful and prohibited. There was also an attempt to generalize the idea of a just price. Although both rules, especially the former, influenced the law and the economy for centuries, neither finally prevailed in the secular world.

The Law Merchant (Lex Mercatoria)

Another feature of the medieval period was the development of a separate commercial law—the law merchant.

Origins and Customary Law

Like the jus gentium of early Roman days, the law merchant differed from existing ordinary rules that varied by... Continue reading "Evolution of Commercial Law: From Medieval Origins to Nations" »

Contracts

A contract is a legally binding promise (written or oral) by one party to fulfill an obligation to another party in return for consideration.

Elements of a Contract

• Offer and Acceptance
• Consideration
• Intention to be legally bound
• Legal capacity
• Formalities

Societies

Civil Society

• Contract between two or more persons
• Obligation to contribute money or goods
• Profits shared among members
• No minimum capital
• Losses and profits distributed
• Minimum of two partners

Anonymous Society

• Dedicated to the exploitation of an economic activity
• Capital divided into shares
• Minimum capital of 60k
• Own legal personality
• Losses in proportion to contribution
• Quarterly VAT

Limited Liability Company

• Capital divided into equal parts, not shares
• Minimum capital of 3.5k
• Partners exempt

1. How would you characterize public and private law?

Public law deals with issues that affect the general public or state, society as a whole. Including Administrative law, Constitutional laws, Criminal laws, Municipal laws and International laws.

On the other hand, private law affects the rights and obligations of individuals, families, businesses and small groups and exists to assist citizens in disputes that involve private matters, which includes Contract law, Tort law - rights, obligations and remedies provided to someone who has been wronged by another individual, Property law, Succession law - governs the transfer of an estate between parties And Family law.

2. Which are the major branches of private law?

Private law deals with the mutual... Continue reading "Understanding Public and Private Law: Major Branches and Functions" »

CEDAW: The International Bill of Rights for Women

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly. Often described as an international bill of rights for women, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and establishes an agenda for national action to end such practices. It was ratified by 189 states as of September 1981.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

• The body that monitors the implementation of the CEDAW.
• Consists of 23 experts on women's rights from around the world.
• In January 2008, responsibility for servicing the CEDAW was transferred to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Step 1: Identify and Analyze Significant Facts

The researcher’s first task is to identify and analyze the facts of the problem. Some facts have legal significance; others do not. The process of legal research begins with compiling a descriptive statement of legally significant facts. Factual analysis is the first step in identifying the legal issues that will be researched.

The TARP Rule

A useful technique is to analyze facts according to the following factors:

• T – Thing or Subject Matter: The place or property involved in a problem or controversy may be important.
• A – Cause of Action or Ground of Defense: Identify the claim that might be asserted or the defense that might be made.
• R – Relief Sought: What is the purpose of the lawsuit? It

Sources of Commercial Law

The legal framework governing commercial transactions, particularly credit instruments, is derived from both primary and secondary sources.

Primary Sources of Commercial Regulation

1. Law and Applicable Statutes

   The primary law applicable to credit instruments is the LGTOC (General Law of Credit Instruments and Operations). Other commercial regulations are also applicable to fill legal gaps, such as the Commercial Code, specialized commercial laws, and the Federal Civil Code. All commercial regulations are federal in nature.

2. International Treaties

   Agreements and conventions ratified internationally that pertain to commercial transactions and credit instruments.

Secondary Sources of Commercial Regulation

3. Jurisprudence

   Jurisprudence

Legal Rules as to Valid Offer

Essential Elements

1. Communication: Offer must be communicated to the offeree.
2. Certainty: The offer must be certain, definite, unambiguous, and not vague.
3. Legal Relation: The offer must be capable of creating a legal relation.
4. Expression: Offer may be express or implied.
5. Completeness: Communication of the complete offer is necessary.
6. Counter Offer: A counter-offer amounts to a rejection of the original offer.
7. Cross Offer: Cross offers do not conclude a contract.
8. Acceptance Burden: An offer must not thrust the burden of acceptance on the offeree.
9. Invitation to Offer: Offer must be distinguished from an invitation to offer.
10. Intention: The offeror should have the intention to obtain the consent of the offeree.
11. Specificity: Offer

Conditions of Release

Conditions of release are the rules that must be followed by parolees.

Intermediate Sanctions

Intermediate sanctions are punishments that fall somewhere between probation and prison.

Women's Prisons and Rehabilitation

Women's prisons are smaller and there are fewer female prisoners than males, which has contributed to a lack of resources devoted to programs and rehabilitation.

The Bail Reform Act of 1984

What authorized the use of preventive detention in cases where the accused places the public at great risk? The Bail Reform Act of 1984.

Prison Terminology

• Fish: A slang term for new prisoners.
• Cigarettes: The traditional standard currency among prisoners.

Identity Theft and Cyber Crime

• Credit card theft is the most common form of