How many justices serve on the Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court of the United States is composed of nine justices. This structure was established by the Judiciary Act of 1869, which set the number of justices to nine and has remained unchanged since then. The justices include one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices, who together interpret the Constitution and review cases that involve significant legal issues.

The number of justices is crucial because it allows for a majority decision in cases that come before the Court, thus ensuring a definitive ruling. A larger or smaller number of justices could lead to complications in case outcomes, especially in close votes. The current composition reflects a deliberate decision to balance the Court’s workload while providing diverse perspectives on legal interpretation. This foundational structure makes option B the accurate answer, representing the established and longstanding framework of the United States Supreme Court.