Article III
Who May Serve on the Supreme Court?
Read the requirementsThe Constitution sets almost no rules. This is on purpose.
No age, citizenship, or residence requirement. Article III is silent.
The Constitution sets no minimum age for a justice.Art. III (silence)
No citizenship requirement, and no residency requirement.Art. III (silence)
No law degree is required. Some justices in history never attended law school.Art. III (silence)
How a justice is chosen. Article II, Section 2.
The President nominates. The Senate confirms by majority vote.Art. II, § 2, cl. 2
The Constitution sets no number of justices. Congress fixes it in law; the Court has had nine seats since 1869.Judiciary Act of 1869
Justices hold their seats during good behaviour, in practice for life, and their pay cannot be reduced while they serve.Art. III, § 1
A justice can be removed only by impeachment and conviction by two-thirds of the Senate. No justice has ever been convicted.Art. II, § 4; Art. I, § 3, cl. 6
No religious test may ever be required for any federal office, including the Court.Art. VI, cl. 3
About the Court
The Supreme Court has nine seats. Justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They serve for life, absent resignation, retirement, or removal by impeachment.
General Court Contact:
Supreme Court of the United States, 1 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20543 · (202) 479-3000
