Rule of Four

Prediction

1. What do you think rule of four means?

2. Use rule of four in a sentence:

3. Think of an example of rule of four in current events:

4. Find an image of rule of four

Fun Fact

Definition

Rule of four refers to a convention that for certiorari to be granted by the U.S. Supreme Court, four justices must vote in favor of the grant. The rule ordains that the votes of four Justices are needed to grant certiorari and bring a case before the Court for decision on the merits. Certiorari is an extraordinary writ issued by an appellate court, at its discretion, directing a lower court to deliver the record in the case for review. The U.S. Supreme Court uses certiorari to review most of the cases that it decides to hear.

Sentence

The rule of four keeps the Supreme Court majority from completely controlling its docket. And the five second rule keeps the food court from getting completely dirty.

Example

Inmate Executed After 11th-Hour SCOTUS Drama

Image

Questions

1. Explain when and why the rule of four was invented:

2. "The rule of four rocks my world!" Attack or defend this statement:

3. Our current Supreme Court has only eight members, imagine that the Court remains at eight members, explain whether it would be wise to institute a rule of three:

4. Imagine the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) abolished the rule of four. What would be the best and the worst consequences of this change?