Correct option is D
Congress determines the number of Supreme Court Justices in the United States. The U.S. Constitution does not specify the number of justices; instead, it grants Congress the authority to decide the size of the Supreme Court. The Judiciary Act of 1789 initially set the number at six. Over time, Congress has adjusted this number several times, and it has been fixed at
nine justices (one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices) since the
Judiciary Act of 1869.
Key Details:
1. The Constitution provides the framework for the judicial branch but leaves the number of justices to legislative discretion.
2. Congress has the power to change the size of the Supreme Court by passing legislation, as it has done historically.
3. Changes in the number of justices have often been influenced by political considerations.
4. The current size of nine justices has remained stable for over 150 years.
Information Booster
· The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the federal judiciary and initially set the number of Supreme Court Justices at six.
· The number of justices changed several times in the 19th century, reaching as high as ten during the Civil War.
· The Judiciary Act of 1869 fixed the number at nine, a composition that has remained unchanged since then.
· Any changes to the number of justices would require congressional legislation and presidential approval.