Chapter 10 notes Flashcards
A declaration by a person that binds the person to do or not to do a certain act.
Promise
A person who makes a promise.
Promisor
A person to whom a promise is made.
Promisee
- Uniform commercial code (UCC) or administrative agencies
- Common Law
Sources of Contract Law
Governs contracts for the sale and lease of goods.
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
Governs contracts relating to services, real estate, employment and insurance.
Common Law
Provide stability and predictibility for both buyers and sellers in the marketplace by assuring the parties to these private agreements that the promises they make will be enforceable.
- Avoid potential disputes
- Ensure compliance with a promise
- Ensures an innocent party some form of relief.
Function of Contracts
Many promises are kept because the parties involved feel a ____ obligation to keep a promise or because keeping a promise is in their mutual interest.
Moral
By supplying procedures for enforcing private agreements, contract law provides an essential condition for the existence of a ___ ____.
- Without this, businesspersons would rely only on good faith of others
- Duty and good faith are usually sufficient to obtain compliance with a promise
- These elements may not be enough when things change in the promise.
Market Economy
An agreement that can be enforced in court formed by 2 or more parties who agree to perform to refrain from performing some act now or in the future.
A set of promises constituting an agreement between parties, giving each legal duty to the other and the right to seek a remedy for breach of the promises or duties.
Contract
The view that contracting parties shall only be bound by terms that can be objectively inferred from promises made.
- A party’s intention to enter a contract is judged by outward, objective facts as interpreted by a reasonable person, rather than by a party’s secret, subjective intentions.
- Helps determine if a contract has been formed.
Objective Theory of Contracts
- What the party said when entering into the contract
- How the party acted or appeared
- The circumstances surrounding the transaction.
Inclusions of Objective Facts
- Agreement
- Consideration
- Contractual capacity
- Legality
Requirements for a Valid Contract
Includes an offer and an acceptance. One party must offer to enter into a legal agreement, and another party must accept the terms of the offer.
Agreement
Any promises made by the parties must be supported by legally sufficient and bargained-for consideration. (Something of value received or promised to convince a person to make a deal).
Consideration
Both parties entering into a contract must have the contractual capacity to do so. The law must recognize them as possessing characteristics that qualify them as competent parties.
Contractual Capacity
The contract’s prupose must be to accomplish some goal that is legal and not against public policy.
Legality
- Voluntary consent
- Form
- These requirements are typically raised as defenses to the enforceabiliy of an otherwise valid contract.
A Contract may be Unenforceable if These Requirements are not met
The consent of both parties must be voluntary. For instance, if the contract was formed as a result of fraud, mistake, or duress (coercion), the contract may not be enforceable.
Voluntary Consent
The contract must be in whatever form the law reqires. Some contracts must be in writing to be enforceable.
Form