How many justices comprised the original Supreme Court?

The original Supreme Court, established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, consisted of six justices. This initial makeup included one Chief Justice and five Associate Justices, allowing for an effective functioning of the court at the time. The Supreme Court was designed to have a smaller number of justices initially to provide a clear and manageable decision-making body, and this size reflected the needs of a new nation still in its formative years.

As the country grew and the legal system became more complex, Congress later expanded the number of justices to nine, but this change occurred much later. The choice of six justices is significant as it constitutes the very foundation of the judicial system that has evolved throughout American history.