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The Magic of Contracts

RST2d Lexis® with text of Sections 1-5

Restatement of the Law, 2s Contracts - Official Text

Sections 1-5; definitions in statutory frameworks

§ 1 Contract Defined

A contract is a promise or a set of promises for the breach of which the law gives a remedy, or the performance of which the law in some way recognizes as a duty.

§ 2 Promise; Promisor; Promisee; Beneficiary

(1)  A promise is a manifestation of intention to act or refrain from acting in a specified way, so made as to justify a promisee in understanding that a commitment has been made.
(2)  The person manifesting the intention is the promisor.
(3)  The person to whom the manifestation is addressed is the promisee.
(4)  Where performance will benefit a person other than the promisee, that person is a beneficiary.

§ 3 Agreement Defined; Bargain Defined

An agreement is a manifestation of mutual assent on the part of two or more persons. A bargain is an agreement to exchange promises or to exchange a promise for a performance or to exchange performances.

§ 4 How a Promise May Be Made

A promise may be stated in words either oral or written, or may be inferred wholly or partly from conduct.

§ 5 Terms of Promise, Agreement, or Contract

(1)  A term of a promise or agreement is that portion of the intention or assent manifested which relates to a particular matter.
(2)  A term of a contract is that portion of the legal relations resulting from the promise or set of promises which relates to a particular matter, whether or not the parties manifest an intention to create those relations.