# § 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.
---
**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 869.)
### Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 321 (, ).
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 2026 Amendment
> “This Act [amending sections 589a and 1930 of this title and
>
> , Bankruptcy, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 589a and 1930 of this title and
>
> , and amending provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2025’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2024 Amendment
> “This Act [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act of 2024’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending sections 124 and 128 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Improving Access to Our Courts Act’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2023 Amendment
> “This Act [enacting
>
> and
>
> , Crime Control and Law Enforcement, amending sections 20301 to 20305 of Title 34, and repealing
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Respect for Child Survivors Act’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2022 Amendment
> “This Act [amending provisions set out as a note preceding
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2021’ or the ‘POWER 2.0 Act’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2021 Amendment
> “This Act [amending sections 375, 589a, and 1930 of this title and
>
> , Bankruptcy, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 152, 589a, and 1930 of this title and
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2020’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2019 Amendment
> “This Act [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Divisional Realignment for the Eastern District of Arkansas Act of 2019’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2018 Amendment
> “This Act [amending
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Protecting Access to the Courts for Taxpayers Act’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2017 Amendment
> “This division [enacting
>
> , Bankruptcy, amending
>
> 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
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2016 Amendment
> “This Act [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2015 Amendment
> “This section [amending and repealing provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2012 Amendment
> “This Act [amending sections 104 and 105 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Divisional Realignment Act of 2012’.”
, , , 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
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2012’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2011 Amendment
> “This Act [enacting sections 1390 and 1455 of this title, amending sections 1332, 1391, 1404, 1441, 1446, and 1453 of this title, repealing
>
> , 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’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Appeal Time Clarification Act of 2011’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending sections 1442, 1446, and 1447 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Removal Clarification Act of 2011’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Access to Criminal History Records for State Sentencing Commissions Act of 2010’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2010 Amendment
> “This Act [amending
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Preserving Foreign Criminal Assets for Forfeiture Act of 2010’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [enacting chapter 181 of this title and provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Securing the Protection of our Enduring and Established Constitutional Heritage Act’ or the ‘SPEECH Act’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2009 Amendment
> “This Act [enacting
>
> , 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
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2008 Amendment
> “This Act [enacting
>
> , amending sections 103, 123, 333, 991, 1864, 1866, 1869, 1871, 1875, and 1920 of this title,
>
> , 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’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Court Security Improvement Act of 2007’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2007 Amendment
> “This Act [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2005 Amendments
> “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’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This section [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2005’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [enacting chapter 114 and
>
> , 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’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2002 Amendment
> “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
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 2002’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 11041–11044) of title I of div. C of
>
> , enacting chapter 16 of this title, amending sections 331, 332, 372, 375, and 604 of this title, and
>
> , Veterans’ Benefits, and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Improvements Act of 2002’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 2000 Amendment
> “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,
>
> , 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
>
> , 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’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1998 Amendment
> “This Act [amending sections 651 to 658 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> , and repealing provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 1998’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1996 Amendment
> “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
>
> , 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’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1994 Amendments
> “This Act [amending
>
> , amending provisions set out as notes under sections 471 and 651 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Amendments Act of 1994’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [enacting
>
> and provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Full Faith and Credit for Child Support Orders Act’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending sections 591 to 596 and 599 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> and
>
> , The President] may be cited as the ‘Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1994’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1992 Amendments
> “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Federal Courts Administration Act of 1992’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Court of Federal Claims Technical and Procedural Improvements Act of 1992’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [enacting chapter 178 of this title and provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Incarcerated Witness Fees Act of 1991’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 1992’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1990 Amendments
> “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Improvements Act of 1990’.”
, , , provided:
> “This title [enacting chapter 23 of this title and provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This title [amending sections 44 and 133 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 44, 133, and 331 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Judgeship Act of 1990’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This title [enacting sections 178, 1367, and 1658 of this title and
>
> , Government Organization and Employees, amending sections 108, 112, 122, 133, 152, 158, 332, 333, 375, 376, 377, 601, 602, 604, 631, 636, 995, 996, 1334, 1391, 1441, 1452, 1499, 1605, 1610, 1821, 1871, and 2072 of this title, sections 8331, 8334, 8336, 8339, and 8402 of Title 5, provisions set out in the Appendix to Title 5, and
>
> , Bankruptcy, renumbering
>
> , Arbitration, as
>
> , enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 376, 620, 631, 1367, and 1658 of this title,
>
> ,
>
> , and sections 3006A and 3551 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections 533 and 581 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Courts Study Committee Implementation Act of 1990’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This title [amending sections 332, 372, 453, and 2077 of this title and provisions set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 332 and 372 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Discipline and Removal Reform Act of 1990’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This title [enacting chapter 176 and
>
> , amending sections 550, 1962, 1963, and 2410 of this title,
>
> , Bankruptcy, and sections 3142 and 3552 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act of 1990’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1988 Amendments
> “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Improvements and Access to Justice Act’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This title [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Court Interpreter Amendments Act of 1988’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [enacting
>
> , Conservation, amending sections 2671, 2674, and 2679 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2671 and 2679 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act of 1988’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [enacting
>
> and
>
> , Government Organization and Employees, amending sections 155, 375, 376, 604, 631, and 636 of this title and sections 8334 and 8402 of Title 5, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 376 and 377 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Retirement and Survivors’ Annuities for Bankruptcy Judges and Magistrates Act of 1988’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1987 Amendment
> “This Act [enacting
>
> , amending sections 49 and 591 to 598 of this title, sections 203 and 205 of
>
> , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and
>
> , Crimes and Criminal Procedure, enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> , and amending provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1987’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1986 Amendments
> “This Act [amending sections 90 and 121 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Housekeeping Act of 1986’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This subtitle [subtitle D (§§ 1151–1153) of title I of
>
> , amending
>
> ,
>
> , Crimes and Criminal Procedure,
>
> , Customs Duties, and
>
> , Food and Drugs, and repealing
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund Amendments Act of 1986’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Sentencing Guidelines Act of 1986’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending sections 376, 620, 1441, 1914, and 2342 of this title,
>
> , The Congress, and sections 8706, 8714a, 8714b, and 8714c of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 376, 620, 1441, 1914, and 2342 of this title, and
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Improvements Act of 1985’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1984 Amendments
> “This subtitle [subtitle B (§§ 404–411) of title IV of
>
> , amending sections 85, 90, 93, 112, 124, and 126 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 85, 90, 93, and 124 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal District Court Organization Act of 1984’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 412–416) of title IV of
>
> , enacting
>
> , amending
>
> ,
>
> , Commerce and Trade,
>
> , Customs Duties, and sections 142 to 144 of Title 35, Patents, and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> and
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Technical Amendments to the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982’.”
, prec. § 412, , , provided that:
For short title of as the Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship Act of 1984, see , set out as a note under .
### Short Title of 1983 Amendment
> “That this Act [amending sections 49, 591, and 592 to 598 of this title and amending provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Ethics in Government Act Amendments of 1982’.”
, , , provided:
### Short Title of 1982 Amendments
For short title of sections 2 to 6 of as the Indian Claims Limitation Act of 1982, see , set out as a note under .
> “That this Act [amending
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Missing Children Act’.”
, , , provided:
> “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982’.”
, , , provided:
### Short Title of 1980 Amendments
> “That this Act [amending
>
> and
>
> , Commerce and Trade, and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Federal Question Jurisdictional Amendments Act of 1980’.”
, , , provided:
> “This Act [amending sections 84, 95, 105, 113, and 124 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 84, 95, 105, and 113 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal District Court Organization Act of 1980’.”
, , , provided that:
> “This Act [amending sections 331, 332, 372, and 604 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Councils Reform and Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980’.”
, , , provided that:
> “That this Act [amending sections 41, 44, and 48 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 1980’.”
, , , provided:
> “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Customs Courts Act of 1980’.”
, , , provided:
### Short Title of 1979 Amendment
For short title of , as the “Federal Magistrate Act of 1979”, see , set out as a note under .
### Short Title of 1978 Amendments
For short title of as the “Jury System Improvements Act of 1978”, see , set out as a note under .
> “That this Act [enacting sections 1827 and 1828 of this title, amending sections 602 to 604 and 1920 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> , and repealing provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Court Interpreters Act’.”
, , , provided:
> “This Act [amending sections 89, 93, 97, 98, 104, 112, 114, 133 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Federal District Court Organization Act of 1978’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1976 Amendments
> “That this Act [enacting sections 1330 and 1602 to 1611 of this title, amending sections 1332, 1391, and 1441 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976’.”
, , , provided:
> “That this Act [amending
>
> and enacting provisions set out as notes under
>
> ] may be cited as the ‘Judicial Survivors’ Annuities Reform Act’.”
, , , provided:
### Short Title of 1970 Amendment
> “This title [enacting sections 256 and 257 of this title, amending sections 253 to 255, 1541, 1582, 2601, 2602, and 2631 to 2639 of this title, repealing sections 1583 and 2640 to 2642 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under
>
> ] may be cited as ‘The Customs Courts Act of 1970’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1966 Amendment
> “This title [enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 603, 604, and 753 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Judicial Salary Act of 1966’.”
, , , provided that:
### Short Title of 1964 Amendment
> “This title [amending sections 5, 44, 135, 173, 213, 252, 603, and 792 of this title,
>
> , Armed Forces, section 68 of former Title 11, Bankruptcy, and
>
> , Internal Revenue Code, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 603, 604 and 753 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Judicial Salary Act of 1964’.”
, , , provided that:
### Gifts to the United States Supreme Court
> “The Chief Justice or his designee is authorized to accept, hold, administer, and utilize gifts and bequests of personal property pertaining to the history of the United States Supreme Court or its justices, but gifts or bequests of money shall be covered into the Treasury.”
, , , provided that: