Instructor Manual: Beatty, Introduction to Business Law, ©2027, 9798214055985; Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
Instructor Manual
Beatty, Introduction to Business Law, ©2027, 9798214055985; Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter......................................................................2
Chapter Objectives........................................................................................................2
What's New in This Chapter........................................................................................2
Chapter Outline.............................................................................................................2
Additional Discussion Questions..................................................................................4
Additional Activities and Assignments.........................................................................5
©2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 1
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Beatty, Introduction to Business Law, ©2027, 9798214055985; Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to describe the history of the common law, the various branches of
government, different schools of jurisprudence, and how to analyze a case.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
1-1 Recognize the role of law in a society and the roots of law in the United States.
1-2 Explain how laws can be classified and describe the process of analyzing a law case.
[return to top]
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS CHAPTER
No substantial changes have been made to this chapter.
[return to top]
CHAPTER OUTLINE
The following outline organizes activities (including any existing discussion questions in PowerPoints or
other supplements) and assessments by chapter (and therefore by topic), so that you can see how all the
content relates to the topics covered in the text.
I. Exploring the Law (1-1) (PPT Slides 3-13)
a. The Role of Law in Society
The law cuts across nearly every aspect of life, especially at work.
The law is essential; every society throughout history has had a system of laws.
Since the law plays a large role in everyone’s life, it is all the more important to
learn about it.
b. Sources of Contemporary Law
i. United States Constitution
(1) Branches of Government
(a) Government is divided into three separate branches to reduce
concentration of power:
(i) Legislative power, which creates laws,
(ii) Executive power, which enforces laws, and
(b) Judicial power, which interprets laws.
(2) Checks and Balances
(a) Each branch can check the power of the others.
(i) The president can veto legislation passed by Congress.
(ii) Congress can impeach the president.
(iii) The president appoints judges approved by the Senate.
(3) Fundamental Rights
(a) These rights are guaranteed by the Constitution. Some include:
©2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 2
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Beatty, Introduction to Business Law, ©2027, 9798214055985; Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
(i) Freedom of speech.
(ii) Freedom of religion.
(iii) Freedom from unlawful search and seizure.
ii. Statutes
(1) A statute is a law created by the legislature.
iii. Common Law
(1) It is made up of the accumulation of cases based on precedent.
iv. Court Orders
(1) Orders issued by a court that can place obligations on a party or compel a
party to do or refrain from an action.
v. Administrative Law
(1) These laws are regulations created by administrative bodies.
Administrations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are themselves created by
Congress.
vi. Knowledge Check Activity 1: PPT Slides 12-13, 1 minute total.
Tests students’ understanding of precedent.
II. Classifications of Law (PPT Slides 14-15)
a. Criminal and Civil Law
i. Criminal Law prohibits certain behavior for the benefit of society.
ii. Civil law regulates the rights and duties between parties.
b. Law and Morality
i. Law is related to morality in some ways, but not in others.
(1) For example, laws based on religious discrimination versus laws
prohibiting murder.
III. Working With the Book’s Features (1-2) (PPT Slides 16-24)
a. Analyzing a Case
i. Cases are at the center of the law and illustrate legal controversies.
b. Analysis
i. Note the parties: Plaintiff, Karl Kuehn is suing the Defendant, The Pub
Zone.
ii. The issue is the question the court is trying to answer.
iii. Each party brings different arguments to court—each argument is the specific
party’s answer to the issue.
c. Exam Strategy
i. This feature shows students how to analyze cases and legal issues.
d. You Be the Judge
i. These are cases where the holding is omitted. Students are encouraged to find
each sides’ arguments and attempt to answer the issue in the case.
e. Knowledge Check Activity 2: PPT Slides 21-22, 1 minute total. Tests
students’ ability to recognize a state statute.
f. Case Study Activity: Kuehn v. Pub Zone: PPT Slides 23-24, 5-10
minutes total.
In this case the Plaintiff Karl Kuehn is suing the Defendant Pub Zone. The issue is if the
Pub Zone has a duty to protect Kuehn from injuries he sustained from the Pagan biker
gang. Pub Zone knew that the Pagans are a dangerous biker gang, and therefore their
knowledge of this fact created a duty to protect Plaintiff Kuehn from danger.
[return to top]
©2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 3
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Beatty, Introduction to Business Law, ©2027, 9798214055985; Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
You can assign these questions several ways: in a discussion forum in your LMS; as whole-class
discussions in person; or as a partner or group activity in class.
1. Discussion: Sources of law in the U.S. [Exploring the Law (1-1)] (PPT Slides 5-6)
a. Writing prompt asking students to examine the multiple sources of law in colonial
America.
b. America’s Founding Fathers borrowed heavily from English law when creating our legal
system. However, their intention was to protect the rights of the people from the
government, so they did not want to duplicate the English system of law. What are two
other important factors they took into consideration when establishing our early laws?
(i) The Founding Fathers created a national government but insisted on allowing
individual states to maintain control in many areas.
(ii) In the Constitution, the Founding Fathers also guaranteed many rights to the
people alone, ordering national and state governments to keep clear.
2. Discussion: Ethics and legality [Exploring the Law (1-1)] (PPT Slide 15)
a. Writing prompt encouraging students to consider the moral and ethical aspects of law as
applied to a fact pattern.
b. Morality and law are closely linked, but there are some areas of law that do not offer a
clear ethical or moral path to follow. Scenario: If you are out walking along a country
lane and see a young child playing with matches near a barn filled with hay, what are
your legal and ethical obligations in this situation?
(i) In terms of ethical conduct, most people would say you should attempt to
intervene and protect the child. Do you agree?
(ii) In terms of the law, you are not obligated to intervene. Why do you suppose the
law does not require you to take action in this situation?
[return to top]
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS
The following are activities and assignments developed by Cengage but not included in the text, PPTs, or
courseware (if courseware exists)—they are for you to use if you wish.
1. Research Project:
a. Ask students for their views on each jurisprudential school.
b. Have students apply jurisprudential ideas to hypotheticals.
[return to top]
©2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 4
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Instructor Manual
Beatty, Introduction to Business Law, ©2027, 9798214055985; Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter......................................................................2
Chapter Objectives........................................................................................................2
What's New in This Chapter........................................................................................2
Chapter Outline.............................................................................................................2
Additional Discussion Questions..................................................................................4
Additional Activities and Assignments.........................................................................5
©2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 1
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Beatty, Introduction to Business Law, ©2027, 9798214055985; Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to describe the history of the common law, the various branches of
government, different schools of jurisprudence, and how to analyze a case.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
1-1 Recognize the role of law in a society and the roots of law in the United States.
1-2 Explain how laws can be classified and describe the process of analyzing a law case.
[return to top]
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS CHAPTER
No substantial changes have been made to this chapter.
[return to top]
CHAPTER OUTLINE
The following outline organizes activities (including any existing discussion questions in PowerPoints or
other supplements) and assessments by chapter (and therefore by topic), so that you can see how all the
content relates to the topics covered in the text.
I. Exploring the Law (1-1) (PPT Slides 3-13)
a. The Role of Law in Society
The law cuts across nearly every aspect of life, especially at work.
The law is essential; every society throughout history has had a system of laws.
Since the law plays a large role in everyone’s life, it is all the more important to
learn about it.
b. Sources of Contemporary Law
i. United States Constitution
(1) Branches of Government
(a) Government is divided into three separate branches to reduce
concentration of power:
(i) Legislative power, which creates laws,
(ii) Executive power, which enforces laws, and
(b) Judicial power, which interprets laws.
(2) Checks and Balances
(a) Each branch can check the power of the others.
(i) The president can veto legislation passed by Congress.
(ii) Congress can impeach the president.
(iii) The president appoints judges approved by the Senate.
(3) Fundamental Rights
(a) These rights are guaranteed by the Constitution. Some include:
©2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 2
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Beatty, Introduction to Business Law, ©2027, 9798214055985; Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
(i) Freedom of speech.
(ii) Freedom of religion.
(iii) Freedom from unlawful search and seizure.
ii. Statutes
(1) A statute is a law created by the legislature.
iii. Common Law
(1) It is made up of the accumulation of cases based on precedent.
iv. Court Orders
(1) Orders issued by a court that can place obligations on a party or compel a
party to do or refrain from an action.
v. Administrative Law
(1) These laws are regulations created by administrative bodies.
Administrations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are themselves created by
Congress.
vi. Knowledge Check Activity 1: PPT Slides 12-13, 1 minute total.
Tests students’ understanding of precedent.
II. Classifications of Law (PPT Slides 14-15)
a. Criminal and Civil Law
i. Criminal Law prohibits certain behavior for the benefit of society.
ii. Civil law regulates the rights and duties between parties.
b. Law and Morality
i. Law is related to morality in some ways, but not in others.
(1) For example, laws based on religious discrimination versus laws
prohibiting murder.
III. Working With the Book’s Features (1-2) (PPT Slides 16-24)
a. Analyzing a Case
i. Cases are at the center of the law and illustrate legal controversies.
b. Analysis
i. Note the parties: Plaintiff, Karl Kuehn is suing the Defendant, The Pub
Zone.
ii. The issue is the question the court is trying to answer.
iii. Each party brings different arguments to court—each argument is the specific
party’s answer to the issue.
c. Exam Strategy
i. This feature shows students how to analyze cases and legal issues.
d. You Be the Judge
i. These are cases where the holding is omitted. Students are encouraged to find
each sides’ arguments and attempt to answer the issue in the case.
e. Knowledge Check Activity 2: PPT Slides 21-22, 1 minute total. Tests
students’ ability to recognize a state statute.
f. Case Study Activity: Kuehn v. Pub Zone: PPT Slides 23-24, 5-10
minutes total.
In this case the Plaintiff Karl Kuehn is suing the Defendant Pub Zone. The issue is if the
Pub Zone has a duty to protect Kuehn from injuries he sustained from the Pagan biker
gang. Pub Zone knew that the Pagans are a dangerous biker gang, and therefore their
knowledge of this fact created a duty to protect Plaintiff Kuehn from danger.
[return to top]
©2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 3
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Beatty, Introduction to Business Law, ©2027, 9798214055985; Chapter 1: Introduction to Law
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
You can assign these questions several ways: in a discussion forum in your LMS; as whole-class
discussions in person; or as a partner or group activity in class.
1. Discussion: Sources of law in the U.S. [Exploring the Law (1-1)] (PPT Slides 5-6)
a. Writing prompt asking students to examine the multiple sources of law in colonial
America.
b. America’s Founding Fathers borrowed heavily from English law when creating our legal
system. However, their intention was to protect the rights of the people from the
government, so they did not want to duplicate the English system of law. What are two
other important factors they took into consideration when establishing our early laws?
(i) The Founding Fathers created a national government but insisted on allowing
individual states to maintain control in many areas.
(ii) In the Constitution, the Founding Fathers also guaranteed many rights to the
people alone, ordering national and state governments to keep clear.
2. Discussion: Ethics and legality [Exploring the Law (1-1)] (PPT Slide 15)
a. Writing prompt encouraging students to consider the moral and ethical aspects of law as
applied to a fact pattern.
b. Morality and law are closely linked, but there are some areas of law that do not offer a
clear ethical or moral path to follow. Scenario: If you are out walking along a country
lane and see a young child playing with matches near a barn filled with hay, what are
your legal and ethical obligations in this situation?
(i) In terms of ethical conduct, most people would say you should attempt to
intervene and protect the child. Do you agree?
(ii) In terms of the law, you are not obligated to intervene. Why do you suppose the
law does not require you to take action in this situation?
[return to top]
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS
The following are activities and assignments developed by Cengage but not included in the text, PPTs, or
courseware (if courseware exists)—they are for you to use if you wish.
1. Research Project:
a. Ask students for their views on each jurisprudential school.
b. Have students apply jurisprudential ideas to hypotheticals.
[return to top]
©2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a 4
publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
