How many justices serve on the Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court of the United States is composed of nine justices. This structure has been in place since 1869, although the number of justices has varied throughout American history. The Supreme Court is established under Article III of the Constitution, which allows Congress to determine the number of justices. However, Congress has settled on nine as a stable number to ensure a balance of opinions while allowing for a sufficient diversity of thought in judicial decision-making. This composition plays a critical role in the function of the Court, as it hears and decides cases of great significance that affect the interpretation of laws and the Constitution.

Moreover, having an odd number of justices helps to avoid ties in decisions, which can complicate judicial outcomes and leave lower court rulings in place without a definitive ruling from the Supreme Court.