Ch. 11 Agreement in Traditional and E-contracts

Question 1

agreement

Answer 1

the parities must agree on the terms of the contract and manifest to each other their mutual assent (agreement) to the same bargain. doesn’t necessarily have to be in writing,

Question 2

How is an agreement evidenced?

Answer 2

by an offer and an acceptance

Question 3

objective theory of contracts

Answer 3

a partys words and conduct are held to mean whatever a reasonable person in the offeree’s position would think

Question 4

offer

Answer 4

a promise or commitment to do or refrain from doing some specified action in the future

Question 5

offeror

Answer 5

the one who makes an offer

Question 6

offeree

Answer 6

the one who receives the offer

Question 7

What are the three elements for an offer to be effective?

Answer 7

(1) the offeror must have a serious intention to become bound by the offer (2) the terms of the offer must be reasonably certain, or definite, so that the parties and the court can ascertain the terms of the contract (3) the offer must be communicated to the offeree

Question 8

What is serious intent determined by?

Answer 8

determined by what a reasonable person in the offerees position would conclude that the offerors words and actions meant, these are the objective intentions

Question 9

serious-and-objective-intent-test

Answer 9

a reasonable person will realize that the offeror is serious about their offer and are not attempting to make an agreement in obvious anger, jest, or undue excitement

Question 10

What are examples of expressions that are not offers?

Answer 10

expressions of opinions, statements of future intent, preliminary negotiations, advertisements, auctions, auctions with and without reserve, agreements to agree(can be considered an enforceable agreement if the intent to be bound is clear).

Question 11

What four terms must a contract include, either explicitly stated or capable of being reasonably inferred from it?

Answer 11

(1) identification of parties (2) identification of the object or subject matter of the contract (also the quantity, when appropriate), including the work to be performed, with specific identification of such items as goods, services and land. (3) the consideration to be paid (4) time of payment, delivery, or performance

Question 12

In what three ways can a contract be terminated?

Answer 12

revocation, rejection, or counteroffer

Question 13

revocation

Answer 13

the offerors act of withdrawing (revoking) an offer. this can only take place if the offeror communicates the revocation before the offeree has accepted. the revocation becomes effective when the offeree actually receives it.

Question 14

option contract

Answer 14

created when an offeror promises to hold an offer open for a specified period of time in return for a payment (consideration) given by the offeree. it takes away the offerors power to revoke the offer for that specified period of time

Question 15

counteroffer

Answer 15

a rejection of the original offer and the simultaneous making of a new offer

Question 16

mirror image rule

Answer 16

requires the offerees acceptance to match the offerors offer exactly. if it is not a mirror image acceptance then the contract immediately terminates that offer and substitutes the counteroffer

Question 17

What three events, if occurred, can terminate a contract by operation of law?

Answer 17

(1) lapse of time (2) destruction of the specific subject matter of the offer (3) death or incompetence (4) supervening illegality of the proposed contract

Question 18

acceptance

Answer 18

a voluntary act by the offer that shows assent to the terms of an offer

Question 19

unequivocal acceptance

Answer 19

this is the mirror image rule. if the offer is not accepted to the terms stated then this can be considered a counteroffer

Question 20

silence as acceptance

Answer 20

(1) may be an acceptance when the offer benefits the offeree and they do not reject the services (2) when the offeree has had prior dealings with the offeror

Question 21

communication of acceptance

Answer 21

in a bilateral contract comm of acceptance is necessary because the acceptance is in the form of a promise (not performance) and the contract is formed when the promise is made

Question 22

mode and timeliness of acceptance

Answer 22

in bilateral contracts acceptance must be timely. acceptance is considered timely when if it is made before the offer is terminated

Question 23

authorized means of acceptance

Answer 23

an offeror can explicitly state how they want the acceptance to be sent, if the offeree does not respond in that manner then it is not considered effective until the offeror receives it.

Question 24

express authorization

Answer 24

when an offeror specifies how the acceptance should be made and then the contract is not formed unless the offeree uses that specified mode of acceptance. the acceptance is effective the moment the the specified mode is employed

Question 25

limitation on remedies

Answer 25

a provision specifying the remedies available to the buyer if the foods are found to be defective or of the contract is otherwise breached

Question 26

dispute resolution

Answer 26

provisions relating to the dispute settlement such as an arbitration clause

Question 27

forum selection clause

Answer 27

indicates the forum or location in which contract disputes will be resolved

Question 28

choice-of-law clause

Answer 28

the parties specify that any dispute arising out of the contract will be settled in accordance with the law of a particular jurisdiction

Question 29

Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)

Answer 29

governs sales contracts. it states that any contract for the sale of goods “may be made in any manner sufficient to show agreement, including conduct by bother parties which recognizes the existence of such a contract”