Chapter oneTo be enforceable ,a contract must have:petent parties 有能力的当事人2.Legal subject matter 合法标的3.Legal consideration 合法对价4.Mutuality of agreement 合意5.Mutuality of obligation 互负义务Enforceable contract=offer+acceptance+consideration+intentOffer=intent+identified offeree+clear and definite terms+specific durationIntent=reasonable person+objective standardThe reception rule 到达主义The postal acceptance rule(mailbox rule)发出主义Detrimental reliance 不利益的信赖；致人损害的信赖由于一方当事人对他人的行为或陈述产生信赖，从而导致自己处于不利地位的，则该种信赖即属不利益的信赖。
不利益的信赖可以替代合同的对价，使某一单方的允诺成为可强制执行的合同。
Some criteria of irremediable damages一些不可弥补损害的标准1.monetary damages will not sufficiently reimburse the nonbreaching party 金钱赔偿不足以补偿未违约方2.The contract was for personal services unobtainable elsewhere这是一份别处无法获得的个人服务合同3.The property/service is rare or unique财产或者服务是罕见的或者唯一的4.The balance of the hardship to both parties has been considered双方都考虑到履约和损失的平衡性Additional terms in acceptance or affirmation1.a definite and seasonable expression of acceptance or a written confirmation which is sent within a reasonable time operates as an acceptance even though it states terms additional to or different from those offered or agreed upon ,unless acceptance is expressly made conditional on assent to the additional or different terms.一个明确和合理的承诺的表达或者书面的确认书在合理的时间内作为承诺发出，即使它表述额外的条款或者不同于要约或者所商定的，除非承诺是明确附加了条件对于那些附加条款或者不同条款。
2.The additional terms are to be constructed as proposals for addition to the contract. Between merchants such terms become part of the contract unless附加条款将作为对合同的补充条款提出建议。
在商人之间，这些条款成为合同的一部分A.the offer expressly limits acceptance to the terms of the offerB.They materially alter itC.Notification of objection to them has already been given within areasonable time after notice of them is received.3.Conduct by both parties which recognizes the existence of a contract is sufficient to establish a contract for sale although（但是）the writings of the parties do not otherwise establish a contract. In such case the terms of the particular contract consist of（包括）those terms on which the writings of the parties agree,together with any supplementary terms incorporated under any other provisions of this Act.双方当事人承认存在合同的行为，足以成立买卖合同，但当事人的书面文件另有约定的除外。
在这种情况下，特定合同的条款包括双方书面同意的条款，以及根据本法任何其他规定合并的任何补充条款。
SilenceNot normally considered acceptance,although there are exception to the rule.比如交易习惯。
What should be included in a contract?1.Heading 标题2.Exordium 绪论导论3.Recitals 详述（合同成立的背景信息）4.Transition 解释合同中用语5.Definition 定义，阐释（合同条款的详细解释）6.Operative provisions 执行条款（合同的主体）7.Interpretation 解释8.Conditions precedent 先决条件9.Other operative clauses 其他执行条款10.Testimonium clause 证明条款11.Schedules 附录Chapter twoThe federal government with the limited powers（联邦政府的有限权利）:1.impose federal taxes 征收联邦税2.Wage war 发动战争Regulate interstate and foreign commerce 管理州际和国外商业3.Make treaties with foreign government 和外国政府缔结条约Three branches of the federal government1.federal system of courts2.Executive branch3.Legislative branchBicameral（两党制）:senate参议院and the house of representative众议院Republican party 共和党and democratic party民主党The united kingdom:The house of lords and the house of commonsThe labor party （工党）and the conservative party（保守党）Series of checks and balances制衡机制Judicial review 司法审查Three concepts inherited from british1.supremacy of law 法律至上2.Precedent 遵循先例3.Adversary proceeding 对抗程序Stare decisis=non quieta movereAttorneys to courses of actions代理诉讼的律师1.Reconcile（核对）the facts of the current case with prior decision2.Attempt to convince the judge to repudiate（否认）a prior decisionHolding:binding authorityDicta:persuasive authorityClassification of law in the united statesw and equity2.Substantive and procedural law3.Public law and private lawIf the legal remedies are sufficient,equitable remedies can not be usedProcedural law 程序法1.issue of jurisdiction管辖权问题2.Pretrial actions 审前行为3.Admissibility of evidence 证据的可采性4.Appeals 上诉Substantive law 实体法1.Torts 侵权2.Products liability 产品责任3.Corporation 法人4.Contracts 合同Public law 公法1.constitutional law 宪法2.Administrative law 行政管理法bor law 劳动法4.Trade regulation 贸易规章，贸易条例5.Criminal law 刑法6.Tax law 税法Private law 私法1.civil law(contracts,family law,property law) 民法mercial law(negotiable instrument,sales,secured,transactions) 商法3.Business enterprises(agency,corporations,partnerships)商业企业、工商企业Chapter three legal authorities一、Statute 制定法、单行法precedent判例Essential terms1.Plaintiff2.Defendant3.Appellant4.Appellee5.Jurisdiction管辖权6.remand发回重审(committed a procedural error;failed to admit evidence or witness...)7.Cert.denied拒绝调卷令（certiorari denied）8.Writ of certiorari9.Cause of action诉由10.Refer to 设计，指的是，参考，适用于11.Initiate 最初的，开始12.Articulate 明确有力的表达13.Rationale 原理的阐释，解释，基本原理14.Citation 索引号15.State reporters 州判例集16.Regional reporters 联邦判例集17.U.S. supreme court reporters 美国最高法院判例集18.Atlantic reporters19.Pacific reporters20.Co. Corporation 公司，法人21.Descriptors 描述符Secondary sourcese.g.corpus juris secundum[C.J.S.] 博士论文汇编American jurisprudence[Am.Jur.] 美国法释义全集Federal and state digests(汇编，文摘）Annotated statute books 注释法典State legal system1.trial court 初审法院一审法院Jury-unanimous verdict 一致裁断除非当事人双方同意多数裁断majority verdict2.Appellate court 上诉法院Bank of judge 全体法官，审判庭，合议庭Appellant v. appelleePetitioner v. respondentIssue of law 法律问题Prejudicial error 造成损害的错误法庭在诉讼中所犯的给一方当事人造成损害的法律错误，可作为上诉法院撤销原判的理由。