Final answer:
The U.S. Supreme Court sets legal precedents when cases are heard by the full court, ensuring consistency and providing legal standards for lower courts to follow. Option c.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the U.S. Supreme Court hears cases with the full bench of nine justices, they are predominantly setting legal precedents. These precedents are the principles or guidelines established by the court that frame the operation of the court system and influence the direction it takes.
By relying on stare decisis, which is the principle of respecting past decisions in new cases, the Supreme Court ensures consistency and stability in the law. Through their rulings, the justices also inevitably set legal standards for interpretation that lower courts are bound to follow.
So Option c is correct answer.