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Table of contents
  1. Preface
  2. 1 American Law, Legal Reasoning, and the Legal System
    1. Introduction
    2. 1.1 Basic American Legal Principles
    3. 1.2 Sources and Types of Law
    4. 1.3 Important Business Laws and Regulations
    5. Assessment Questions
    6. Endnotes
  3. 2 Disputes and Dispute Settlement
    1. Introduction
    2. 2.1 Negotiation
    3. 2.2 Mediation
    4. 2.3 Arbitration
    5. Assessment Questions
    6. Endnotes
  4. 3 Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
    1. Introduction
    2. 3.1 Business Ethics
    3. 3.2 Social Responsibility
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  5. 4 Business and the United States Constitution
    1. Introduction
    2. 4.1 Commerce Clause
    3. 4.2 Constitutional Protections
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  6. 5 Criminal Liability
    1. Introduction
    2. 5.1 Common Business Crimes
    3. 5.2 Civil vs. Criminal Liability
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  7. 6 The Tort System
    1. Introduction
    2. 6.1 Intentional Torts and Negligence
    3. 6.2 Product and Strict Liability
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  8. 7 Contract Law
    1. Introduction
    2. 7.1 Agreement, Consideration, and Promissory Estoppel
    3. 7.2 Capacity and Legality
    4. 7.3 Breach of Contract and Remedies
    5. Assessment Questions
    6. Endnotes
  9. 8 Sales Contracts
    1. Introduction
    2. 8.1 The Nature and Origins of Sales Contracts
    3. 8.2 Warranties and Sales Contracts
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  10. 9 Employment and Labor Law
    1. Introduction
    2. 9.1 Employment, Worker Protection, and Immigration Law
    3. 9.2 Labor Law
    4. 9.3 Equal Opportunity in Employment
    5. Assessment Questions
    6. Endnotes
  11. 10 Government Regulation
    1. Introduction
    2. 10.1 Administrative Law
    3. 10.2 Regulatory Agencies
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  12. 11 Antitrust Law
    1. Introduction
    2. 11.1 History of Antitrust Law
    3. 11.2 Antitrust Laws
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  13. 12 Unfair Trade Practices and the Federal Trade Commission
    1. Introduction
    2. 12.1 Unfair Trade Practices
    3. 12.2 The Federal Trade Commission
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  14. 13 International Law
    1. Introduction
    2. 13.1 Introduction to International Law
    3. 13.2 Sources and Practice of International Law
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  15. 14 Securities Regulation
    1. Introduction
    2. 14.1 Liability Under the Securities Act
    3. 14.2 The Framework of Securities Regulation
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  16. Answer Key
    1. Chapter 1
    2. Chapter 2
    3. Chapter 3
    4. Chapter 4
    5. Chapter 5
    6. Chapter 6
    7. Chapter 7
    8. Chapter 8
    9. Chapter 9
    10. Chapter 10
    11. Chapter 11
    12. Chapter 12
    13. Chapter 13
    14. Chapter 14
  17. Index
1.

Laissez faire, as popularized by Scottish economist Adam Smith and British philosopher Herbert Spencer, describes an economic philosophy that markets function best when left to their own devices, i.e., without, or with minimal, government involvement or regulations.

3.

c

5.

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 governs secondary markets, or what is typically referred to as the “stock market.” In contrast to the primary market, which involves the initial sale of a security, such as through an initial public offering (IPO), secondary markets involve subsequent buyers and sellers of securities. One key difference is that primary market prices are set in advance, while secondary market prices are subject to constantly changing market valuations, as determined by supply and demand and investor expectations.

7.

d

9.

In 1968, the Williams Act amended the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 so that investors could have advance warning of possible corporate takeovers. If someone (individual/corporation) becomes the beneficial owner of more than 5% of a company’s stock, that entity must file a Schedule 13D with the SEC within 10 days of purchase. A beneficial owner is anyone with “voting and investment power over their shares.” There are a few exceptions that apply, such as qualified institutional investors—large investors who are deemed to have sophisticated knowledge of securities such that they do not need the same level of protection as general investors. Insurance companies, state employee benefits plans, and investment companies are examples of qualified institutional investors who are allowed to report their holdings at the end of the calendar year.

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