2025 test · Question 54 of 128
How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
Answers from the USCIS list
Give this answer. Words in light (parentheses) are optional.
- Five optional: (5)
Our explanation
Cases are decided by a majority, which means more than half. When all nine justices hear a case, at least five must vote the same way.
Remember it
Half of 9 is 4.5, so 5 votes make a majority.
Source
USCIS 2025 Study Guide (M-1175) p. 31: “When 9 Supreme Court Justices hear a case, at least 5 justices must vote the same on the case in order to have a majority.”
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