§ 1. Number of justices; quorum

§ 1. Number of justices; quorum

The Supreme Court of the United States shall consist of a Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices, any six of whom shall constitute a quorum.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 869.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 321 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 215, 36 Stat. 1152).

Appointment of “judges of the Supreme Court” by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate is provided by U.S. Constitution art. 2, § 2, cl. 2.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 2024 Amendment

Pub. L. 118–203, § 1, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2693, provided that: “This Act [amending section 133 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 133 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act of 2024’.”

Pub. L. 118–73, § 1, July 30, 2024, 138 Stat. 1504, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 124 and 128 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Improving Access to Our Courts Act’.”

Short Title of 2023 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–354, § 1, Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6270, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 540D of this title and section 20306 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement, amending sections 20301 to 20305 of Title 34, and repealing section 20306 of Title 34] may be cited as the ‘Respect for Child Survivors Act’.”

Short Title of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–252, § 1, Dec. 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2359, provided that: “This Act [amending provisions set out as a note preceding section 81 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2021’ or the ‘POWER 2.0 Act’.”

Short Title of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–325, § 1, Jan. 12, 2021, 134 Stat. 5086, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 375, 589a, and 1930 of this title and section 330 of Title 11, Bankruptcy, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 152, 589a, and 1930 of this title and section 330 of Title 11] may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2020’.”

Short Title of 2019 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–73, § 1, Nov. 26, 2019, 133 Stat. 1154, provided that: “This Act [amending section 83 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 83 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Divisional Realignment for the Eastern District of Arkansas Act of 2019’.”

Short Title of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–332, § 1, Dec. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 4487, provided that: “This Act [amending section 1631 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Protecting Access to the Courts for Taxpayers Act’.”

Short Title of 2017 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–72, div. B, § 1001, Oct. 26, 2017, 131 Stat. 1229, provided that: “This division [enacting section 1232 of Title 11, Bankruptcy, amending section 1930 of this title and sections 1222, 1228, and 1229 of Title 11, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 152, 589a, and 1930 of this title and section 1222 of Title 11] may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017’.”

Short Title of 2016 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–319, § 1, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1618, provided that: “This Act [amending section 1605 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 1605 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act’.”

Short Title of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–74, title VII, § 701(a), Nov. 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 599, provided that: “This section [amending and repealing provisions set out as notes under section 2461 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015’.”

Short Title of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–188, § 1, Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1433, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 104 and 105 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 104 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Divisional Realignment Act of 2012’.”

Pub. L. 112–121, § 1, May 25, 2012, 126 Stat. 346, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 589a and 1930 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 152, 589a, and 1931 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 1931 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2012’.”

Short Title of 2011 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–63, § 1(a), Dec. 7, 2011, 125 Stat. 758, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 1390 and 1455 of this title, amending sections 1332, 1391, 1404, 1441, 1446, and 1453 of this title, repealing section 1392 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1332 and 1390 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act of 2011’.”

Pub. L. 112–62, § 1, Nov. 29, 2011, 125 Stat. 756, provided that: “This Act [amending section 2107 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2107 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Appeal Time Clarification Act of 2011’.”

Pub. L. 112–51, § 1, Nov. 9, 2011, 125 Stat. 545, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 1442, 1446, and 1447 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Removal Clarification Act of 2011’.”

Pub. L. 111–369, § 1, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4068, provided that: “This Act [amending section 534 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Access to Criminal History Records for State Sentencing Commissions Act of 2010’.”

Short Title of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–342, § 1, Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3607, provided that: “This Act [amending section 2467 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Preserving Foreign Criminal Assets for Forfeiture Act of 2010’.”

Pub. L. 111–223, § 1, Aug. 10, 2010, 124 Stat. 2380, provided that: “This Act [enacting chapter 181 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 4101 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Securing the Protection of our Enduring and Established Constitutional Heritage Act’ or the ‘SPEECH Act’.”

Short Title of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–122, § 1, Dec. 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 3480, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 509B of this title, amending sections 1103 and 1182 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality, and sections 1091 and 2339A of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1182 of Title 8] may be cited as the ‘Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009’.”

Short Title of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–406, § 1(a), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4291, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 2045 of this title, amending sections 103, 123, 333, 991, 1864, 1866, 1869, 1871, 1875, and 1920 of this title, section 104 of Title 11, Bankruptcy, and sections 3006A, 3152, 3154, 3161, 3563, 3583, 3599, and 3672 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 123 and 1871 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Administration and Technical Amendments Act of 2008’.”

Pub. L. 110–177, § 1, Jan. 7, 2008, 121 Stat. 2534, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Court Security Improvement Act of 2007’.”

Short Title of 2007 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–34, § 1, June 14, 2007, 121 Stat. 224, provided that: “This Act [amending section 546 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 546 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007’.”

Short Title of 2005 Amendments

Pub. L. 109–63, § 1, Sept. 9, 2005, 119 Stat. 1993, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 48, 141, 152, and 636 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Judiciary Emergency Special Sessions Act of 2005’.”

Pub. L. 109–8, title XII, § 1223(a), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 196, provided that: “This section [amending section 152 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 152 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2005’.”

Pub. L. 109–2, § 1(a), Feb. 18, 2005, 119 Stat. 4, provided that: “This Act [enacting chapter 114 and section 1453 of this title, amending sections 1332, 1335, and 1603 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1332, 1711, 2071, and 2074 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Class Action Fairness Act of 2005’.”

Short Title of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11020(a), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1826, provided that: “This section [enacting sections 1369, 1697, and 1785 of this title, amending sections 1391 and 1441 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1369 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 2002’.”

Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11041, Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1848, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 11041–11044) of title I of div. C of Pub. L. 107–273, enacting chapter 16 of this title, amending sections 331, 332, 372, 375, and 604 of this title, and section 7253 of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 351 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Improvements Act of 2002’.”

Short Title of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–518, § 1(a), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2410, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 179 and 613 of this title, amending sections 117, 175, 332, 371, 376, 604, 611, 612, 627, 631, 636, 797, 996, 1865, 1930, and 2671 of this title, sections 3102 and 5551 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, section 1228 of Title 11, Bankruptcy, sections 3006A and 3401 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and section 13n of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, repealing section 2520 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 613, 996, and 1931 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections 471, 581, and 1931 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Courts Improvement Act of 2000’.”

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–315, § 1, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2993, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 651 to 658 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 651 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 652 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 1998’.”

Short Title of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–317, § 1(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3847, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 258 and 1932 of this title, amending sections 112, 125, 134, 251, 253, 331, 332, 371, 376, 601, 621, 627, 636, 753, 954, 1332, 1404, 1406, 1442, 1446, 1827, 1914, 1931, and 1963 of this title, sections 3154, 3401, and 3603 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, sections 1983 and 1988 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and sections 719, 743, 745, 1104, and 1105 of Title 45, Railroads, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 258, 1332, 1404, 1827, 1914, 1931, and 2412 of this title and section 719 of Title 45, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections 133, 152, 471, and 1913 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996’.”

Short Title of 1994 Amendments

Pub. L. 103–420, § 1, Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4343, provided that: “This Act [amending section 612 of this title, amending provisions set out as notes under sections 471 and 651 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 651 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Amendments Act of 1994’.”

Pub. L. 103–383, § 1, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 4063, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 1738B of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 1738B of this title] may be cited as the ‘Full Faith and Credit for Child Support Orders Act’.”

Pub. L. 103–270, § 1, June 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 732, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 591 to 596 and 599 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 591 of this title and section 113 of Title 3, The President] may be cited as the ‘Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1994’.”

Short Title of 1992 Amendments

Pub. L. 102–572, § 1, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4506, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Federal Courts Administration Act of 1992’.”