Final answer:
A majority opinion represents the decision of the majority of the justices on a case and sets the legal precedent, while a dissenting opinion represents the minority view and explains the reasons for disagreement with the majority.
Step-by-step explanation:
A major difference between a majority opinion and a dissenting opinion issued by the Supreme Court is that a majority opinion represents the decision of the majority of the justices on a case, while a dissenting opinion represents the minority view. The majority opinion sets the legal precedent and becomes the official ruling of the Court. On the other hand, a dissenting opinion is written by one or more justices who disagree with the majority's decision, and it explains their reasons for not concurring with the majority.
For example, in the Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Court issued a majority opinion declaring racial segregation in public schools as unconstitutional. However, some justices disagreed with this ruling and wrote dissenting opinions expressing their dissenting views on the matter.
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