{
  "version": "1.0",
  "jurisdiction": "us",
  "name": "United States (Federal)",
  "name_zh": "美国（联邦）",
  "description": "Federal employment and contract law baseline",

  "employment_law": {
    "at_will_doctrine": {
      "description": "Employment can be terminated by either party at any time, for any reason (with exceptions)",
      "exceptions": [
        "Discrimination (Title VII, ADA, ADEA)",
        "Retaliation for protected activities",
        "Violation of public policy",
        "Implied contract exceptions"
      ],
      "note": "Montana is the only state without at-will doctrine"
    },
    "classification": {
      "exempt": {
        "salary_threshold": "$684/week ($35,568/year)",
        "duties_test": "Executive, Administrative, Professional, Computer, Outside Sales",
        "overtime": "Not entitled to overtime"
      },
      "non_exempt": {
        "overtime": "1.5x regular rate after 40 hours/week",
        "minimum_wage": "$7.25/hour (federal minimum)"
      }
    },
    "protected_classes": [
      "Race",
      "Color",
      "Religion",
      "Sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity)",
      "National origin",
      "Age (40+)",
      "Disability",
      "Genetic information"
    ]
  },

  "contract_requirements": {
    "statute_of_frauds": {
      "written_required_for": [
        "Contracts that cannot be performed within one year",
        "Real estate transactions",
        "Sale of goods over $500 (UCC)",
        "Guarantees/suretyship"
      ]
    },
    "consideration": "Required for enforceable contracts",
    "capacity": "Parties must be 18+ and mentally competent"
  },

  "key_federal_laws": [
    {
      "code": "Title VII",
      "name": "Civil Rights Act of 1964",
      "description": "Prohibits employment discrimination"
    },
    {
      "code": "FLSA",
      "name": "Fair Labor Standards Act",
      "description": "Minimum wage, overtime, child labor"
    },
    {
      "code": "ADA",
      "name": "Americans with Disabilities Act",
      "description": "Disability discrimination and accommodations"
    },
    {
      "code": "ADEA",
      "name": "Age Discrimination in Employment Act",
      "description": "Protects workers 40 and older"
    },
    {
      "code": "FMLA",
      "name": "Family and Medical Leave Act",
      "description": "12 weeks unpaid leave for qualifying reasons"
    },
    {
      "code": "NLRA",
      "name": "National Labor Relations Act",
      "description": "Right to organize and collective bargaining"
    },
    {
      "code": "ERISA",
      "name": "Employee Retirement Income Security Act",
      "description": "Pension and benefit plan requirements"
    }
  ],

  "non_compete_rules": {
    "general_rule": "Enforceable if reasonable in scope, duration, and geography",
    "reasonableness_factors": [
      "Legitimate business interest to protect",
      "Time limitation (typically 1-2 years)",
      "Geographic scope",
      "Industry/activity restrictions",
      "Consideration provided"
    ],
    "note": "FTC proposed ban on non-competes (pending as of 2024)"
  },

  "state_variations_note": "Individual states may have stricter requirements. Check state-specific knowledge files."
}