Law II

Course Description:
Law II is an in-depth study of the U.S. legal system, with a focus on Tort Law, Contract Law and
Constitutional Law. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking skills and other law related skills.
Landmark cases, case law, current events, and simulations are used to examine the legal
system from a social science point of view.

Course Units/Pacing Guide

Unit
Tort Law
Contract Law
Constitutional Law

Approximate Number of Days

18-22
18-22
18-22

Resource: Street Law, 9th ed.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law
Grade Level: 9-12
Associated AP Courses: Students may take Advanced Placement Government to continue
and deepen their study of the United States Government and legal system.

Law II- Unit 1

Tort Law
Standards
LRE 1.2 Students can understand how laws are made, enforced and interpreted.
LRE 1.5 Students can understand how laws provide consequences and provide punishments
for crimes and other transgressions.
LRE 3.2 Students can develop claims and counterclaim(s) fairly, supplying, well chosen,
relevant and sufficient evidence for each.
Understandings
There are legal limits to what people can
sue or be sued for.
There are distinct differences between
intentional tort and negligence.
Tort laws protect people and property.

Essential Questions
What determines who is liable and how the
wronged are compensated?
What is a tort?
How/why do we compensate individuals
for damages?
Why does the law differentiate between
types of damages?
Why/how does tort law protect people and
property?
What defense could be used according to
the situation?
How are the elements of negligence
present in our everyday life?
How is strict liability determined?

Learning Targets (Students will be able to)

Explain intentional torts.
Describe the legal process and standards for determining liability and damages as they relate to
Tort Law.
Analyze case studies to identify applicable components of tort law.
Support a side in a tort liability case study, using relevant evidence to support their claim.
Content/Vocabulary

Intentional Torts
Damages
Compensatory
Nominal
Punitive
Injured Persons
Assault
Battery
Intentional Infliction Emotional Distress
False Imprisonment
Defamation
Injured Property
Real Property
Trespass
Nuisance
Personal Property

Conversion
Intellectual
Patent
Copyright
Defenses
First Sale
Fair Use
Consent
Privilege
Self-Defense
Negligence
Elements (Duty, Breach, Causation)

Assessment
Assessment development will be ongoing, but the following is a suggested summative unit
assessment.
Case Study Argumentative Essay- Students read a tort liability case study and make an
argument for either the prosecution or defense, supporting their argument with statutory and
case law evidence to support their argument. Assignment will be graded using the U46
argumentative writing rubric.
Other forms of assessment include class discussion, homework assignments, individual and
group activities, quizzes

Law II- Unit 2

Contract Law
Standards
LRE 1.2 Students can identify how laws are made, enforced, and interpreted.
LRE 1.3 Students can understand the adversarial nature of legal systems, law enforcement,
and mechanisms for resolving disputes and conflict in society.
Understandings
Contracts must contain certain elements to
be valid and binding.
Recourse is available through the legal
system when contracts are breached.

Essential Questions

How do we assure our agreements are

protected?

What are the necessary components of a

contract?
When is a contract binding?
What options are available if a contract is
breached?

Learning Targets (Students will be able to)

Describe the essential components of a valid contract.
Analyzing a contract to determine its validity.

Describing remedies when a contract is violated/breached.

Content/Vocabulary

Elements of a Contract
Offer
Acceptance
Consideration

Breach
Remedies

Types of Contracts
Oral
Written
Unenforceable

Assessment
Assessment development will be ongoing.
Other forms of assessment include class discussion, homework assignments, individual and
group activities, quizzes

Law II- Unit 3

Constitutional Law
Standards
LRE 1.3 Students can understand the adversarial nature of legal systems, law enforcement,
and mechanisms for resolving disputes and conflict in society.
LRE 1.6 Students can understand how equal protection of the laws is established under the
constitution and how law promote, limits, and defines equality as a social ideal in American
society.

Understandings
Speech can be censored by the
government in certain contexts, as
established by case law.

Essential Questions

To what extent are your individual rights and

liberties protected?

When/Why/How can the government censor

freedom of speech?
How are your religious liberties protected?
Learning Targets (Students will be able to)
Explain the circumstances in which restrictions on the first amendment right to freedom of
speech are allowed by law.

Explain the difference between the establishment and the free exercise clauses in the
Constitution as it relates to freedom of religion.
Content/Vocabulary

Freedom of Speech
Obscenity
Defamation
Symbolic
Publication
Restrictions
Hate speech
Expression (special
Freedom of Press
Censorship

Freedom of Religion
Establishment Clause
Free Exercise Clause
Vocabulary
Liberties
Obscenity
Prior Restraint

places)

Assessment
Assessment development will be ongoing.
Other forms of assessment include class discussion, homework assignments, individual and
group activities, quizzes