SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/civics-justices-to-decide

How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?

Five (5), a majority of nine.

  1. Five ✔
  2. Nine
  3. Six

Why: With nine justices, a majority of five usually decides a case. It does not need to be unanimous.

Huh, didn't know that: The Supreme Court's term begins on the first Monday in October.

The dad joke
Why did the justices high-five? Five votes wins the case.
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Sources

  1. USCIS M-1778, 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version) https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/2025-Civics-Test-128-Questions-and-Answers.pdf

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