Section 9

Legal Myths & Quiz

Twelve common myths, then fifteen questions covering the whole course.

A lot of what people "know" about law comes from television. Click each statement to find out whether it is true, then take the full quiz to check what you learned across every section of this site.

Myth or fact?

"If the police do not read you your rights, the charges are automatically dropped."

"Free speech means a private company cannot delete your posts."

"A contract is only binding if it is written and signed."

"You can sue anyone for anything at any time."

"Verbal agreements between roommates about rent are worthless."

"In a civil case, the plaintiff must prove the claim beyond a reasonable doubt."

"Police always need a warrant to search your phone after an arrest."

"Students give up their First Amendment rights when they walk into a public school."

"If you are hurt but partly at fault, you automatically get nothing."

"An advertised price is always a binding offer the store must honor."

"An appeal is a second trial with new witnesses."

"Most civil lawsuits end with a jury verdict."

Why This Matters

Believing a myth can cost you real money or real rights: waiting too long to file, assuming a verbal agreement does not count, consenting to a search you did not have to allow, or thinking a case is over because a warning was skipped. Getting the basics right is the point of this course.

Did You Know?

Court dramas compress a process that normally takes a year or more into an hour. In real litigation, discovery alone often lasts longer than the entire fictional trial.

Final quiz: all sections

Score: 0 / 15

1. Which court reviews a completed case for legal errors instead of hearing new evidence?
2. What is the power of courts to strike down laws that conflict with the Constitution called?
3. A dispute between two private parties over money is:
4. Which stage of a lawsuit involves exchanging documents and taking depositions?
5. A neutral third person helps both sides reach their own voluntary agreement. This is:
6. Tinker v. Des Moines involved students who:
7. Texas v. Johnson held that flag burning as political protest is:
8. In Snyder v. Phelps, the Supreme Court ruled for the protesters mainly because:
9. Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?
10. Gideon v. Wainwright guarantees defendants who cannot afford a lawyer:
11. The four elements of negligence are:
12. Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad is best known for the rule that:
13. In Anglin, the appellate court:
14. Lucy v. Zehmer shows that a contract is judged by:
15. UCC Article 2 governs contracts for:

Sources for this page

See the full Works Cited page →