Answer :
Final answer:
The chief justice typically writes the majority opinion if they are part of the majority, but not all justices in the majority are required to contribute to the writing. A majority opinion does not mean universal agreement among justices, and dissenting justices can issue their own opinions. Therefore, the first option is accurate regarding the characteristics of a majority opinion.
Explanation:
Characteristics of Majority Opinions
A majority opinion is a formal statement issued by a court that reflects the views of more than half of the justices who heard a case. It is important to note the following characteristics:
- The chief justice usually writes the majority opinion if they are a part of the majority. This is a common practice, but other justices in the majority can also be tasked with writing the opinion if the chief justice chooses not to.
- Not all justices who are part of the majority are required to write a majority opinion; instead, the opinion is typically authored by one justice who presents the collective reasoning.
- A majority opinion is not necessarily written only when justices reach universal agreement. Instead, it articulates the prevailing views among the justices who voted in favor of the ruling.
- Justices who dissent do not need to agree with the majority opinion; they may issue a dissenting opinion to state their disagreement and reasoning.
To summarize, the correct characteristic of a majority opinion is that the chief justice usually writes it when they are part of the majority. Further, justices in the majority are not required to reach universal agreement, and dissenting justices are free to express their differing views.
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