Video lesson

Standard Deviants

You will watch the film and do the tasks provided below.

First read all the tasks in order to understand what the film is about and what you have to do.

Standard Deviants

Vocabulary Notes

source of law – источник права legislature – законодательный орган (штата), законодательная власть regulation – постановление; нормативный акт value – (v) ценить; (n) ценности good faith – добросовестность respect - уважение

derive (from) – происходить framework – основа separation of powers – разделение власти checks and balances – система сдержек и противовесов uniform act – единообразный закон allocate powers – распределить власть. полномочия

Business law

After watching the film you will answer the following questions:

1. How does business law protect business people and consumers?

2. What are the main sources of American law?

3. What are the functions of the constitution?

4. What is the principle of federalism and how does it work?

5. How are statutes created?

6. What are uniform acts and how does their adoption reflect the principle of federalism?

7. Who creates regulations and where are they applied?

8. Which aspects of common law make an important source of American law?

What is law? What does it have to do with business? How does business law fit into your life?

I.

In 1 and 2 choose from the options

1. What is the best way to understand the idea of business law? Choose from the following:

contract law; the system of law; the rule of law; civil law; the sources of law; law of business; the nature of law;

2. Nature of law:

Law is a form of protection and reflection

What does law protect people from? - from others, from themselves, from enemies, from wrongs, from those who commit wrongs?

What does law reflect?

Law tends to embody the current beliefs of society = tries to implement or realize moral principles of society.

Закон стремиться воплотить существующие убеждения общества (моральные принципы)

3. Fill out the gaps

What does business law do for business people? (what does business law protect them from and what does it reflect)

Business law protects business people from:

1. …….

2. …….

3. from getting shafted by unscrupulous partners = being offended by dishonest partners

4. ………….

5. breached contracts

So Business Law tends to reflect the values of the business world within which it functions.

II. Business law and consumers

How does business law protect consumers?

Both business people and consumers value respect and good word about them.

It takes good faith (reliability and trust) and respect to make a trustworthy contract.

Заключение достоверного договора зависит от надежности и уважения (сторон)

Match the parts of the sentences:

1. We need a form of	a) if end up with a product different from what we were promised
2.We need a way to get our money back	b) an actual product we thought we were buying
3. We need a way to get	c) protection against swindlers.

So, business law protects consumers too.

How can Business Law be a great protector? How does this type of law reflects? Where does it come from? Business Law has derived from the same sources as all law.

III. Write down the sources:

What are the three sources of law (US)?

1. …………..

2. ……………….

3. ………………….

In 1 and 2 fill out the gaps

1. Constitution

Constitution gives lawmakers a framework on which to build the laws that we need to meet our country’s changing needs.

Constitution has 3 functions

1. ………..

2. ……………….

3. protection of individual rights

Principle of federalism concerns a government system in which power is divided between national government and other governments (state or local)

2. Statutes and regulations

Statutes can be created by ………….as well as by state and local …………..

Laws created by Congress apply everywhere in the USA – these are …………...

State laws apply ………………

Rules and codes

Statutes are sometimes not created by legislature.

Proposed laws are uniform acts written by…………………………

If the legislature thinks that the uniform act is important enough to turn into a statute then the uniform act becomes a law.

The authors hope that all legislatures across the country will adopt their uniform acts as law.

But laws are not uniform.

The state legislature decides what laws they want and what they don’t want.

If one uniform act becomes a law in one state (Montana), it may not become a law in another state (Mississippi).

The Montana legislature may vote …….. ……………………………………. while the Mississippi legislature …………..

or

The Mississippi legislature might adopt ………………………. or make ……………….

3.

Watch. Listen and understand. Then do the tasks

Regulations

Regulations are rules made by federal agencies.

Regulations can be created by agencies and commissions

Agencies and commissions

- Environmental Protection Agency EPA

- Security and Exchange Commission SEC

- Federal Communication Commission FCC

- Federal Trade Commission FTC

- Food and Drug Administration FDA

Which agency or commission creates the following regulations?

Environmental Safety regulations -

Food safety regulations -

Trade regulations -

Radio and TV Broadcasting regulations -

How are the agencies created?

Fill in the gaps

Agencies are created by …….

Legislature writes statutes which states ………………………….., and outlines ………….. these agencies have to make their own rules (enforce particular rules)

Agencies have a big effect on ……………………

With the allocated powers the agencies make and enforce rules that apply to their specific areas of jurisdiction.

4. Common law

Answer the questions:

What is common law? What does stare decisis mean? What is precedent?

UNIT III

State Structure Court System

USA Courts

I. Federal Court System

Speak about the system of the U. S. Federal Courts

II. State Court System (example)

Read the text.

1. Find out what these numbers refer to

1; 6; 6; 3; 12; 55; 59; 93

THE COURT SYSTEM PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN EVERYONE'S LIFE, SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS HOW THE COURTS WORK. LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS IN EVERYDAY LIFE THAT INVOLVE THE COURT SYSTEM;

THE COURT SYSTEM

The Nebraska court system is made up of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, district courts, and county courts. There are also special courts for kids, and for workers who get hurt at their job.

THE SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court has a Chief Justice and six associate justices. The Six associate justices each come from a different area of the state called a district, and the Chief can come from anywhere in the state. The Governor appoints the justices from a list given to him by a special committee whose job is to recommend people be judges.

The Supreme Court's main jobs are to look at cases from other courts to be sure that they didn't make any mistakes, and to see that the state's court system runs smoothly. It also looks at all cases involving the death penalty or life in prison, or when the case has a question about the Constitution of the State of Nebraska.

The Supreme Court is also in charge of all the lawyers in the State of Nebraska.

THE COURT OF APPEALS

The court of appeals has six judges, one from each of the same six districts as the Supreme Court. One of these six judges is appointed by the Supreme Court for a one year term as chief judge.

The court of appeals' job is to hear all appeals not involving penalties of death, or life in prison. So, whenever someone is unhappy with the decision given by a lower court (usually a county or district court), they can have the court of appeals hear the case again, to see if anyone made any mistakes that could make them change the decision.

DISTRICT COURTS

There are twelve judicial districts and 55 district court judges to serve all 93 of Nebraska's counties. District courts hear all serious criminal cases, civil cases involving more than $45,000, and divorce cases.

COUNTY COURTS

Within those same 12 judicial districts (some of which have only one county, and some have up to 17), there are 59 county court judges. County Courts handle all minor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil cases involving less that $45,000, guardianship, adoption, and juvenile cases.

JUVENILE COURTS

Nebraska has juvenile courts in Lancaster, Douglas, and Sarpy counties. These courts only deal with crimes committed kids under 18, and with children who've been abused by their parents.

TYPES OF CASES

Find out what these cases mean.

Courts deal with many kinds of cases:

drug cases

arguments between people who rent houses and their landlords

car accidents, or accidents that are someone's fault

warranty and consumer goods cases

arguments between two people or companies about money

adoptions

divorces

cases when people who committed a crime, but didn't go to jail did something bad again

cases about who is going to take care of kids when the parents can't do it, or can't do it together

law suits against people like doctors, lawyers, or other professionals

crimes committed-felonies and misdemeanors

examples of felonies:

starting illegal fires

attacks on other people

stealing large amounts of money

murder

sexual assault

examples of misdemeanors:

theft of property that is worth more than $100, but less than $300

drunk driving

littering

2. Prepare questions you will ask your partner in order to find out information about state courts in the USA.

Work with your partner, make up an interview.

UNIT IV

TORTS and CRIMES