Rachel Debner
For purposes of Contract Law: A promise is a statement communicated by
the person making the statement (promisor) to another person (promisee)
that the promisor will do something or not do something that is in the power
of the promisor to do or not do in the future.
a. Example. You make this statement to your best friend: “I promise to mow
your lawn by next Saturday.”
b. QUESTION. Write a brief statement that constitutes a promise:
I promise to feed your cat every night for two months.
2. An offer is built on the idea of a promise communicated by the promisor
(offeror) to a promisee (offeree). However, in this case the promise is
conditional. The offeror’s promise to exercise a right to do something or not
do something (incur a detriment as part of performance) becomes a legal
obligation but only as part of a bargain. The offeror’s promise to perform
depends on the offeree accepting the condition in which the offeree would
also incur a detriment as part of the offeree’s return performance.
a. (1) Example (Bilateral Contract). You make this statement to your best
friend: “I promise to give you $100 if you promise to mow my lawn by next
Saturday.” This is an offer for a bilateral contract because to form a contract
your friend must make a return promise to mow the lawn.
(2) Example (Unilateral Contract). You make this statement to your best
friend: “I promise to give you $100 if you mow my lawn by next Saturday.”
This is an offer for a unilateral contract because to form a contract your
friend must actually perform by mowing the law by Saturday.
b. QUESTION. Write a brief statement that constitutes an offer for bilateral
contract.
I promise to give you $200 if you promise to complete my taxes by this
Friday.
For purposes of Contract Law: A promise is a statement communicated by
the person making the statement (promisor) to another person (promisee)
that the promisor will do something or not do something that is in the power
of the promisor to do or not do in the future.
a. Example. You make this statement to your best friend: “I promise to mow
your lawn by next Saturday.”
b. QUESTION. Write a brief statement that constitutes a promise:
I promise to feed your cat every night for two months.
2. An offer is built on the idea of a promise communicated by the promisor
(offeror) to a promisee (offeree). However, in this case the promise is
conditional. The offeror’s promise to exercise a right to do something or not
do something (incur a detriment as part of performance) becomes a legal
obligation but only as part of a bargain. The offeror’s promise to perform
depends on the offeree accepting the condition in which the offeree would
also incur a detriment as part of the offeree’s return performance.
a. (1) Example (Bilateral Contract). You make this statement to your best
friend: “I promise to give you $100 if you promise to mow my lawn by next
Saturday.” This is an offer for a bilateral contract because to form a contract
your friend must make a return promise to mow the lawn.
(2) Example (Unilateral Contract). You make this statement to your best
friend: “I promise to give you $100 if you mow my lawn by next Saturday.”
This is an offer for a unilateral contract because to form a contract your
friend must actually perform by mowing the law by Saturday.
b. QUESTION. Write a brief statement that constitutes an offer for bilateral
contract.
I promise to give you $200 if you promise to complete my taxes by this
Friday.
