BUS205: Business Law

Watch this lecture, which provides an overview of securities law as administered by the United States federal government. Due to the federal structure of the United States, securities regulation takes place both at the federal and the state level. Pay particular attention to the discussion on the definition of a security and the requirements for companies to offer securities for sale publicly in the United States.

Watch this video on the role of states in the regulation of securities in the United States. States first regulated securities in the United States, and continue to play a key role in securities regulation to this day. Pay particular attention to states' approach to securities registration and the role of uniform acts in attempting to foster coordination among the states and the federal government with regard to securities regulation.

Watch this video, which deals with the adoption and details of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Act, often referred to as SOX, came about in the wake of several scandals involving large public corporations in the United States. Note the role played by leading corporate executives, accountants, auditors, and legal counsel. What problems did SOX attempt to address, and what specific changes did it make to address those problems?

Watch this video, which deals with the interaction of administrative law with business in the United States. Administrative agencies usually have the authority to create rules that have the force of law. In essence, a legislative body gives an administrative agency a limited amount of that legislature's power to make law. Pay attention to the reasons that this is done, and note the roles that several agencies in the United States government play in regulating businesses and the environment in which they operate.