American Government / Unit 9 Gov 421 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Nine Justices
Captions available
The idea
The Supreme Court seats nine justices — one chief and eight associates — a number set by Congress, not the Constitution.
In practice
The first Court had six justices; Congress fixed nine in 1869, and there it has stayed.
Where people slip
The Constitution creates the Court and leaves its size to statute.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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