In Contract Law, an agreement between two parties where both parties make promises to do something is referred to as a Bilateral Contract.
Definition:
A Bilateral Contract is a mutual agreement in which each party commits to fulfilling their respective promises. In this type of contract, a promise is exchanged for a promise, making both parties legally bound to perform their obligations.
Key Characteristics:
1. Mutual Promises: Both parties agree to perform certain actions or deliverables.
2. Enforceability: Both promises are legally enforceable.
3. Example: A agrees to deliver goods to B, and B agrees to pay a specified amount to A. This mutual exchange of commitments forms a bilateral contract.
Comparison with Unilateral Contract:
- In a Unilateral Contract, only one party makes a promise, and the contract is formed when the other party performs the required act (e.g., reward for finding a lost item).
- In a Bilateral Contract, the contract is formed as soon as the promises are exchanged.
Legal Significance:
Bilateral contracts are the most common type of contracts in business and legal transactions. They form the basis of agreements such as employment contracts, sales agreements, lease contracts, and service agreements.
Conclusion:
When two parties enter into an agreement where each promises to perform an obligation or duty, it is legally termed a Bilateral Contract.
Therefore, the correct answer is: Bilateral contract.