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

Glossary of Terms

Political and Social Concepts

• Absolutism: The three powers (legislative, judicial, and executive) are controlled by a single person.
• Tax: A percentage of money paid to the government/king, which is then used for public spending.
• Separation of Powers: In a democracy, governmental power is divided among separate branches: judicial, legislative, and executive.
• Estate: A territory that is politically independent of another community.
• Human Actions: Conscious behaviors aimed at achieving specific goals and objectives.
• Tithe: A historical tax, typically 10%, paid to the church or ruler.
• Constitution: Establishes the separation of powers and ensures its implementation.
• Divine Rights: The belief that a monarch's authority comes directly from

Writs in Indian Law

Habeas Corpus

"Habeas Corpus" is a Latin term which literally means "you may have the body." The writ is issued to produce a person who has been detained, whether in prison or in private custody, before a court and to release him if such detention is found illegal.

AK Roy vs Union of India, Kanu Sanyal vs District Magistrate

Mandamus

"Mandamus" is a Latin word, which means "We Command". Mandamus is an order from the Supreme Court or High Court to a lower court or tribunal or public authority to perform a public or statutory duty. This writ of command is issued by the Supreme Court or High Court when any government, court, corporation or any public authority has to do a public duty but fails to do so.

East India vs Collector of

Minority Shareholder Protection and Remedies

Every company has majority and minority shareholders. Very often, the majority shareholders will possess greater authority, leaving the minority with little choice but to acquiesce. In practice, if a minority shareholder is oppressed, several legal remedies are available. Section 994 addresses personal claims, while Section 260 pertains to corporate claims. Section 122(1)(g) is considered a last resort option. There are significant differences between these remedies.

Section 994 and 996: Unfair Prejudice Claims

Section 994(1) of the Companies Act 2006 is crucial in defining unfair prejudice. A key case illustrating this is O'Neill v Phillips.

Case Study: O'Neill v Phillips

• Facts: Mr. Phillips owned Pectel

Traditional Doctrine and Challenges

A minority shareholder can raise a claim if they believe they have been mistreated by the majority shareholders. Traditionally, the company would bring a claim on behalf of the minority shareholder if the allegations involved a corporate wrong, such as fraud or control by the wrongdoer. However, this approach presented challenges:

• Difficult to establish proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Obtaining testimony from company employees against the majority shareholder was impractical.

Statutory Derivative Claims under the Companies Act 2006

Due to the limitations of the traditional doctrine, the Companies Act 2006 introduced statutory derivative claims under sections 260 and 263. Section 260 defines a derivative claim,... Continue reading "Minority Shareholder Protection: Derivative Claims and Legal Challenges" »

Political Systems

A political system refers to the system of government in a nation. There are three main types of political systems:

• Collectivist-Socialist Systems: These systems prioritize collective ownership and control over economic and political resources.
• Individualist-Democratic Systems: These systems emphasize individual freedom and choice in economic and political pursuits.
• Totalitarian Systems: These systems concentrate absolute control over all aspects of society in the hands of a single person or party.

Economic Systems

An economic system refers to the way in which a society produces, distributes, and consumes goods and services. There are three main types of economic systems:

• Market Economies: These systems are characterized by private

Property Rights, Security Interests, and Land Registration

Security Interests

Hypothec

A hypothec is a limited real right granted to a creditor, securing a debt with the debtor's movable or immovable property. It uses an immovable object as subject matter and does not require dispossession of the hypothecated asset. In case of default, the lender must first take possession of the security and then sell it.

Pledge

A pledge uses a movable object as subject matter and requires dispossession of the pledgor. The pledgee retains possession until the debt is repaid.

Mortgage

A mortgage can involve movable and immovable property and entails the transfer of ownership. It creates a charge against immovable property (anything attached to the earth).

Other Property

Businesspeople and commercial law are two elements that cannot go separately. When doing business, commercial law is always present and has to be taken into account in order to fulfill the law and have legal effects. But now, how is commercial law developed in business? What is the impact on it? Is it positive? Or negative? All those questions will answer an important matter regarding business and law, two keys that have a huge impact in nowadays society and life.

Defining Commercial Law

First of all, it is needed to define what commercial law is in order to understand which are the matters and issues that are affected. It is the body of law that applies to the rights, relations, and conduct of persons and businesses engaged in commerce, merchandising,... Continue reading "The Impact of Commercial Law on Business and Society" »

Probation Officer

Investigation and Supervision

Jeremy Bentham

The Panopticon (New Type of Prison Layout)

Anomie/Strain Theory

Excessive Materialism as a Limited Means to Success

Quakers

Hard labor. 13th Amendment -> Section 1 allows prison slavery.

Prisoner vs. prisoner violence: rate of 28 per 1000

50 state systems (92% of all facilities) + federal, private (8%)

Main goal of corrections: to protect the public

(United States) Prison population: 25%

60% on probation in the US system

Intensive supervision, $70 billion, official immunity, absconding --> reasons for probation revocation

School of Thought: Cause and Effect

Positivists, labeling theory --> Stigmatization

Michael Walker

Prison in California, stayed 165 days (6 months), contemporary pain... Continue reading "The American Prison System: History, Theories, and Challenges" »

Official Protocol: Set of Norms

Social: Agreements that with time become universally used and accepted.

Business: Set of Conduct Agreements

Etiquette: Set of norms that have been created to facilitate our coexistence.

• Internal: Communication codes between employees
• External: Communication and behavior with third parties

Behavior of an Executive

• Set the rules
• Value their team
• Guide an organization internal conduct and its relationships with its customers, partners, and shareholders.

Introduction Rules: 12 Golden Rules

1. Respect hierarchy
2. Loyalty
3. Time management
4. Become part of the team with an open, flexible, collaborative attitude
5. Know how to follow leadership directions

Business Travel

• Unexpected: Crisis, emergency, require fast thinking and action
• Scheduled:

SA8000 Certification: Social Accountability in the Workplace

The SA8000 Social Accountability certification standard focuses on workplace values. The standard is based on international workplace norms of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Key Elements of SA8000

A brief summary of some of the SA8000 elements follows:

• Child labor
• Forced labor
• Health and safety
• Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining
• Discrimination
• Discipline
• Working hours
• Compensation
• Management systems

The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact

The UN Global Compact outlines ten principles related to human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anti-corruption:... Continue reading "SA8000 Certification: Workplace Values and Social Accountability" »