An Introduction to American Law

About this course: This course will give you a glimpse into six different areas of American law: Tort Law, Contract Law, Property, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Civil Procedure. You will gain insight into the complexities and dilemmas that arise from the application of law in different settings, and what is distinctive about American approaches.

Created by:  University of Pennsylvania

• Taught by:  Anita Allen, Henry R. Silverman Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy

  Penn Law

• Taught by:  Shyam Balganesh, Professor of Law

  Penn Law

• Taught by:  Stephen Morse, Ferdinand Wakeman Hubbell Professor of Law; Professor of Psychology and Law in Psychiatry; Associate Director, Center for Neuroscience & Society

  Penn Law

• Taught by:  Theodore Ruger, Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law

  Penn Law

• Taught by:  Tess Wilkinson-Ryan, Assistant Professor of Law and Psychology

  Penn Law

• Taught by:  Tobias Barrington Wolff, Professor of Law

  Penn Law

Level Beginner Commitment 1 hour/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Welcome



3 readings expand

1. Reading: About Us
2. Reading: Syllabus
3. Reading: Grading Policy and Logistics

Tort Law



Tort law governs how people may sue each other civilly (as opposed to criminally) in order to receive compensation for harms or injuries other people caused them. In this module, Professor Allen will explore the goals of tort law through a historic case. She will address what makes tort law distinct and issues surrounding negligence and liability.


6 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Key Tort Law Terms
2. Reading: Supplemental Reading
3. Video: Tort Law: Part 1
4. Video: Tort Law: Part 2
5. Video: Tort Law: Part 3
6. Video: Tort Law: Part 4
7. Video: Tort Law: Part 5
8. Video: Tort Law: Part 6

Graded: Tort Law Quiz

WEEK 2


Contract Law



Contract law governs how promises between two individuals are enforced. Few areas of law impact our daily lives as much as contract law, and in this module you will gain a deeper understanding of what a contract is and what makes it enforceable. Professor Wilkinson-Ryan will address what constitutes a contract, why the law enforces them, the legal meanings of words in contracts, and the important requirement of consideration. Expectation damages, or the amount a court orders someone who breached a contract to pay will also be explored, all through hypothetical and real cases.


4 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Key Contract Law Terms
2. Reading: Supplemental Reading
3. Video: Contract Law: Part 1
4. Video: Contract Law: Part 2
5. Video: Contract Law: Part 3
6. Video: Contract Law: Part 4

Graded: Contract Quiz

WEEK 3


Property Law



Property law governs the relationship between individuals and things, known as property. In this module, Professor Balganesh will explore the differences between property and tort and contract law and about several specific examples of property law in action: adverse possession, landlord/tenant, and licenses. You will learn about what makes U.S. property law distinct - its origins in common law, imprint of legal realism, and pragmatism.


4 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Key Property Law Terms
2. Reading: Supplemental Reading
3. Video: Property Law: Part 1
4. Video: Property Law: Part 2
5. Video: Property Law: Part 3
6. Video: Property Law: Part 4

Graded: Property Law Quiz

WEEK 4


Constitutional Law



The study of constitutional law is among the most exciting parts of the law because it provides for the structure and functioning of the U.S. government. In this module, Dean Ruger will address the document itself, how it has been applied over time, the history of the document, and what makes it unique. The structure of the U.S. government as a government of limited, separated powers will be explored along with the important individual rights the Constitution provides and how the U.S. Constitution compares to others around the world.


4 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Key Constitutional Law Terms
2. Reading: Supplemental Reading
3. Video: Constitutional Law: Part 1
4. Video: Constitutional Law: Part 2
5. Video: Constitutional Law: Part 3
6. Video: Constitutional Law: Part 4

Graded: Constitutional Law Quiz

WEEK 5


Criminal Law



In this module, Professor Morse will focus on the basics of criminal law, an area of law so exciting that countless TV shows and movies have been based on it. The major aspects of criminal law will be discussed - why we impose punishment, when we impose the most punishment, and how the state proves a criminal case. Defenses to criminal charges, which are divided into justifications and excuses will also be addressed.


4 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Key Criminal Law Terms
2. Reading: Supplemental Reading
3. Video: Criminal Law: Part 1
4. Video: Criminal Law: Part 2
5. Video: Criminal Law: Part 3
6. Video: Criminal Law: Part 4

Graded: Criminal Law Quiz

WEEK 6


Civil Procedure



In this module, Professor Wolff will introduce us to some of the major issues in civil procedure law. Civil procedure is the study of the rules of court that must be followed by the judge and parties in civil cases (as opposed to criminal cases – criminal procedure is a whole other area of the law, but law students learn civil procedure first because it gives the structure of typical trials). The essence of a law school civil procedure course is the study of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A copy of these is linked in the syllabus for you to scan. The rules tell you how to file a lawsuit and how the court must function while it is considering a lawsuit. Professor Wolff will introduce you to the doctrinal area of procedure and will highlight some of the major modern issues in procedure law.


4 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Key Civil Procedure Terms
2. Reading: Supplemental Reading
3. Video: Civil Procedure: Part 1
4. Video: Civil Procedure: Part 2
5. Video: Civil Procedure: Part 3
6. Video: Civil Procedure: Part 4

Graded: Civil Procedure Quiz

WEEK 7


Final Exam

Graded: Final Exam