7.1 Commercial Paper Homework Questions Flashcards
Question CPA-01068
Under the Negotiable Instruments Article of the UCC, which of the endorser’s liabilities are disclaimed by a ‘‘without recourse’’ endorsement?
- Neither contract nor warranty liability.
- Warranty liability only.
- Contract liability only.
- Both contract and warranty liability.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘c’’ is correct. Endorsing a negotiable instrument without recourse negates contract liability but not warranty liability.
Choices ‘‘b’’, ‘‘d’’, and ‘‘a’’ are incorrect. Each of these choices incorrectly addresses warranty and/or contract liability.
Question CPA-01074
Under the Negotiable Instruments Article of the UCC, which of the following provisions satisfies the requirement that an instrument, to be negotiable, must be payable at a definite time?
- The instrument is dated and payable ‘‘in six months but the payor may extend this period indefinitely.”
- The instrument is undated and payable ‘‘when the payee dies.”
- The instrument is dated and payable ‘‘15 days after sight.”
- The instrument is undated and payable ‘‘30 days after date.’’
Explanation
Choice ‘‘c’’ is correct. An instrument is payable at a definite time if it can be established from the face of the instrument when the obligation will become due. An obligation payable 15 days after sight is payable 15 days after it is presented for payment.
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. Although six months is a definite time, the option of the payor to extend indefinitely the time for payment destroys negotiability.
Choice ‘‘d’’ is incorrect. If an instrument is not dated, we cannot know when 30 days after date is. Therefore, this is not payable at a definite time.
Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. Although the payee will die some day, we do not know when, so the date of payment is not definite.
Question CPA-01078
Under the Negotiable Instruments Article of the UCC, an endorsement of an instrument ‘‘for deposit only’’ is an example of what type of endorsement?
- Special.
- Blank.
- Qualified.
- Restrictive.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. The \/1/0rds ‘‘for deposit only’’ restrict further negotiation of the instrument and so are an example of a restrictive endorsement.
Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. A blank endorsement does not name a special endorsee. The words ‘‘for deposit only’’ create a restrictive endorsement, not a blank endorsement.
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. A qualified endorsement is one that includes the words ‘‘without recourse’’ and so eliminates the endorser’s contract liability on the instrument.
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. A special endorsement is one that names a new payee.
Question CPA-01081
Under the Negotiable Instruments Article of the UCC, which of the following statements is(are) correct regarding the requirements for an instrument to be negotiable?
- The instrument must be in writing, be signed by both the drawer and the drawee, and contain an unconditional promise or order to pay.
- The instrument must state a fixed amount of money, be payable on demand or at a definite time, and be payable to order or to bearer.
- Neither I nor II.
- Both I and II.
- I only.
II only
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. To be negotiable, the instrument must meet all of the following:
- Be in writing
- Be signed by the maker or drawer (not drawee)
- Contain an unconditional promise or order
- Be for a fixed amount of money
- Be payable on demand or at a definite time
- Be payable to order or bearer
Contain no additional undertaking/instruction not authorized by the UCC Alternative I is incorrect because there is no requirement that the drawee sign
Question CPA-01083
Which of the following instruments is subject to the provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Article of the UCC?
- A warehouse receipt.
- A bill of lading.
- An investment security.
- A certificate of deposit.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. Checks, drafts, promissory notes and certificates of deposits are within the provisions of the
Negotiable Instruments Article of the UCC (Article 3).
Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. A bill of lading is governed by Article 7. Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. A warehouse receipt is governed by Article 7.
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. Investment securities (e.g., stocks and bonds) are governed by Article 8.
Question CPA-01086
Under the Negotiable Instruments Article of the UCC, when an instrument is endorsed ‘‘Pay to John Doe’’ and signed ‘‘Faye Smith,” which of the following statements is (are) correct?
Payment of the instrument is guaranteed
- No
- Yes
- No
- Yes
The instrument can be further negotiated
a. No
b. Yes
c. Yes
d. No
Explanation
Choice ‘‘b’’ is correct. The first assertion is true-payment is guaranteed. The instrument here is endorsed. In essence, an endorser makes a contract of guarantee: if the instrument is presented for payment and is dishonored, the endorser agrees to pay on the instrument according to its terms when it was endorsed. The second assertion is also true. When an instrument is endorsed to a specified person, it becomes order paper, but it still may be negotiated further, as long as the special payee endorses.
Note: Actually, whether or not the instrument may be further negotiated also depends on to whom the instrument was drawn in the first place, and that information is not provided. If the instrument here was payable to bearer or to the order of Faye Smith, it may be further negotiated, but if it was payable to the order of anyone else, it could not be further negotiated without that person’s endorsement.
nder the Commercial Paper Article of the UCC, which of the following documents would be considered an order to pay?
- Draft.
- Certificate of deposit.
- II only.
- Both I and II.
- Neither I nor II.
- I only.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. Order paper is three-party paper where one person orders another to pay yet a third person. A draft is order paper. A certificate of deposit is two-party paper. In a CD, a bank acknowledges receipt of money and promises to pay. UCC 3-104
Question CPA-01100
Under the Commercial Paper Article of the UCC, for an instrument to be negotiable it must:
- Be signed by the payee.
- Contain necessary conditions of payment.
- Contain references to all agreements between the parties.
- Be payable to order or to bearer.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. Any writing to be a negotiable instrument must be payable to order or to bearer, with the exception of checks. If the instrument is payable to order, it is negotiated by delivery with any necessary endorsement; if payable to bearer, it is negotiated by delivery alone. UCC 3-104
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. Whether an instrument is negotiable is determined by its form when drawn or made; the subsequent signature of a payee can neither create nor destroy negotiability.
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. A negotiable instrument need not contain references to any other document. Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. If an instrument is conditional, it generally cannot be negotiable.
Question CPA-01104
Under the Commercial Paper Article of the UCC, which of the following circumstances would prevent a promissory note from being negotiable?
- An acceleration clause that allows the holder to move up the maturity date of the note in the event of default.
- A person having a power of attorney signs the note on behalf of the maker.
- An extension clause that allows the maker to elect to extend the time for payment to a date specified in the note.
- A clause that allows the maker to satisfy the note by the performance of services or the payment of money.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. To be negotiable, a note must be payable in money and only in money. A note that allows the maker to pay by performing services is not negotiable. UCC 3-104
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. To be negotiable, an instrument must be payable on demand or at a definite time. If the latest date for payment can be determined from the face of a demand instrument, it is considered to be payable at a definite time even if that latest date can be reached only through an extension clause. UCC 3-109
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. To be negotiable, an instrument must be payable on demand or at a definite time. If the latest date for payment can be determined from the face of a demand instrument, it is considered to be payable at a definite time even if it includes an acceleration clause. UCC 3-109
Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. An agent, such as a person having a power of attorney, can sign a negotiable instrument on behalf of a principal.
Question CPA-01108
Under the Commercial Paper Article of the UCC, which of the following requirements must be met for a transferee of order paper to become a holder?
- Possession.
- Endorsement of transferor.
- I only.
- II only.
- Neither I nor II.
- Both I and II.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. To be a holder of order paper, one must have all necessary signatures, such as that of the transferor, and possession of the instrument must have been transferred. UCC 3-201
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. To have the status of a holder, one must also have the signatures of all necessary parties, such as that of the transferor.
Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. To have the status of a holder, the instrument must have been transferred to the possession of the holder.
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. To be a holder of order paper, one must have all necessary signatures, such as that of the transferor, and possession of the instrument must have been transferred.
Question CPA-01114
Under the Commercial Paper Article of the UCC, which of the following requirements must be met for a person to be a holder in due course of a promissory note?
- The holder must be the payee of the note.
- The note must be negotiable.
- All prior holders must have been holders in due course.
- The note must be payable to bearer.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘b’’ is correct. One may be an HOC only of a negotiable instrument. UCC 3-302
Choice ‘‘d’’ is incorrect. One can be an HOC on a negotiable note payable to order; it need not be payable to bearer.
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. One will be an HOC if he is a holder who takes the instrument for value, in good faith, and without notice that the instrument is overdue or has been dishonored or of any defenses on or claims to the instrument. There is no requirement that all prior holders be HOCs. UCC 3-302
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. Transferees can be HOCs. The status is not limited to the payee of the note. Indeed, the payee generally cannot be an HOC.
Question CPA-01116
Under the Commercial Paper Article of the UCC, which of the following circumstances would prevent a person from becoming a holder in due course of an instrument?
- The note was collateral for a loan.
- The person was notified that payment was refused.
- The person was notified that one of the prior endorsers was discharged.
- The note was purchased at a discount.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘b’’ is correct. One will be an HOC only if the person is a holder who takes the instrument for value, in good faith, and without notice that the instrument is overdue or has been dishonored or of any defenses on or claims to the instrument. A refusal to pay is a dishonor. UCC 3-304
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. Notice of the fact that a prior endorser was discharged does not prevent a person from becoming an HOC.
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. Notice that the instrument was collateral is not notice of a defense to an instrument and does not prevent HOC status.
Choice ‘‘d’’ is incorrect. Purchase at a discount does not prevent HOC status.
Question CPA-01120
Under the Commercial Paper Article of the UCC, which of the following statements best describes the effect of a person endorsing a check ‘‘without recourse?’’
- The person makes no promise or guarantee of payment on dishonor.
- The person converts the check into order paper.
- The person has no liability to prior endorsers.
- The person gives no warranty protection to later transferees.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘a’’ is correct. Signing without recourse negates contract liability on the instrument. Contract liability is the promise to pay upon dishonor. UCC 3-414
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. An endorser is liable to subsequent parties on an instrument; not to prior parties, and this is true no matter how the endorser signs.
Choice ‘‘d’’ is incorrect. Signing without recourse negates contract liability on the instrument. Warranty liability (e.g., all signatures are genuine, the instrument has not been materially altered, etc.) is not negated.
Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. A person does not automatically convert a check to order paper by endorsing it ‘‘without recourse.” A special endorsement (i.e., one naming a new payee) can convert bearer paper to order paper.
Robb, a minor, executed a promissory note payable to bearer and delivered it to Dodsen in payment for a stereo system. Dodsen negotiated the note for value to Mellon by delivery alone and without endorsement. Mellon endorsed the note in blank and negotiated it to Bloom for value. Bloom’s demand for payment was refused by Robb because the note was executed when Robb was a minor. Bloom gave prompt notice of Robb’s default to Dodsen and Mellon. None of the holders of the note were aware of Robb’s minority. Which of the following parties will be liable to Bloom?
Oorfsea Mellon
a.
Yes
Yes
b.
Yes
No
C.
No
No
d.
No
Yes
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. Mellon can be held liable, but Bloom cannot hold Dodsen liable on an endorser’s contract because Dodsen did not endorse. Neither could Bloom hold Dodsen liable for breach of any transfer warranty since such warranties are made only to immediate transferees when one does not endorse, and Dodsen did not endorse and the immediate transferee was Mellon rather than Bloom. UCC 3-417
Question CPA-01537
Vex Corp. executed a negotiable promissory note payable to Tamp, Inc. The note was collateralized by some of Vex’s business assets. Tamp negotiated the note to Miller for value. Miller endorsed the note in blank and negotiated it to Sileo for value. Before the note became due, Sileo agreed to release Vex’s collateral. Vex refused to pay Sileo when the note became due. Sileo promptly notified Miller and Tamp of Vex’s default. Which of the following statements is correct?
- Sileo will be able to collect from Tamp because Tamp was the original payee.
- Sileo will be able to collect from either Tamp or Miller because Sileo was a holder in due course.
- Sileo will be unable to collect from Miller because Miller’s endorsement was in blank.
- Sileo will be unable to collect from either Tamp or Miller because of Bilco’s release of the collateral.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. When a person entitled to enforce an instrument impairs the value of collateral securing the instrument, the obligations of the endorsers are discharged to the extent of the impairment. The security was completely released so the endorsers will be released from their obligation (assuming the note was fully collateralized). UCC 3-606
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. An endorsement in blank does not prevent endorser liability. Rather, the endorsement must be qualified (i.e., without recourse) to prevent the endorser’s contract liability. UCC 3-204
Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. When a person entitled to enforce an instrument impairs the value of collateral securing the instrument, the obligations of the endorsers are discharged to the extent of the impairment. UCC 3-606
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. The fact that Tamp was the original payee is irrelevant.
Question CPA-01541
Which of the following negotiable instruments is subject to the UCC Commercial Paper Article?
- Warehouse receipt.
- Corporate bearer bond with a maturity date of January 1, 2009.
- Bill of lading payable to order.
- Installment note payable on the first day of each month.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. Commercial paper includes drafts and notes. Thus, it covers an installment note [UCC 3- 104].
Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. The commercial paper article specifically excludes investment securities such as corporate bonds [UCC 3-103(1)], which are covered under Article 8.
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. The commercial paper article specifically excludes documents of title [UCC 3-103(1)], which includes warehouse receipts governed by Article 7.
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. The commercial paper article specifically excludes documents of title [UCC 3-103(1)] , which includes bills of lading governed by Article 7.
Question CPA-01547
Which of the following conditions, if present on an otherwise negotiable instrument, would affect the instrument’s negotiability?
- The instrument is payable at a definite time subject to an acceleration clause in the event of a default.
- The instrument contains a promise to provide additional collateral if there is a decrease in value of the existing collateral.
- The instrument is postdated.
- The instrument is payable six months after the death of the maker.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘d’’ is correct. Negotiable commercial paper must be payable on demand or at a definite time [UCC 3- 104(1)(c)]. An instrument payable at someone’s death or at a time after someone’s death is not payable at a definite time because while all people will die, we don’t know when [UCC 3-109(2)].
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. Negotiable commercial paper must be payable on demand or at a definite time [UCC 3- 104(1)(c)], and an instrument payable at a definite time but subject to acceleration is considered to be payable at a definite time because only the latest date for payment need be known [UCC 3-109(1)(c)].
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. An instrument is not made non-negotiable by postdating [UCC 3-114(1)].
Choice ‘‘b’’ is incorrect. While to be negotiable an instrument must not be subject to any unauthorized promises [UCC 3-104(1)(b)], the UCC authorizes promises to maintain collateral [UCC 3-112(1)(c)].
Question CPA-01555
For a person to be holder in due course of a promissory note:
- All prior holders must have been holders in due course.
- The note must be negotiable.
- The note must be payable in U.S. currency to the holder.
- The holder must be the payee of the note.
Explanation
Choice ‘‘b’’ is correct. Negotiability of the instrument is a prerequisite to holder in due course (HOC) status.
Choice ‘‘c’’ is incorrect. A note is negotiable as long as it is payable in currency recognized as money where the currency is issued.
Choice ‘‘d’’ is incorrect. The holder need not be the payee to be a HOC. The whole point of commercial paper is its transferability; the commercial paper may be transferred beyond the original payee.
Choice ‘‘a’’ is incorrect. Not all prior holders need to have been HOCs in order for the present holder to be an HOC. For instance, if the note is endorsed and gifted to a person, the donee is not an HOC because the donee has not given value. (Note: under the ‘‘shelter doctrine,’’ a donee will have the rights of an HOC if the donor was an HOC.) Even though a donee may not be an HOC, a subsequent holder could acquire HOC status if (i) the subsequent holder pays to the donee value for the note and (ii) the other three requirements for HOC status are present: the holder obtained the instrument in good faith, the holder obtained the instrument without notice of any defenses to, or claims of ownership on, the instrument, and the instrument was commerical paper.