Final answer:
The U.S. Supreme Court begins its term on the first Monday in October and hears a small fraction of the cases requested. The justices maintain a strict schedule and tradition plays a significant role in their proceedings. Key functions include selecting cases, hearing oral arguments, and issuing opinions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Supreme Court begins its annual term on the first Monday in October, not the first Thursday in April, and continues its session until late June of the following year. During this period, the Court will select cases for its docket, which represents a tiny fraction of the approximately ten thousand cases petitioned to it each year. Less than 2 percent of these petitions are granted a hearing in front of the justices.
When the Court is in session, it follows a rigorous schedule of hearing oral arguments, typically from October through April, on Monday through Wednesday in two-week intervals. Overall, the Supreme Court's proceedings are steeped in tradition, signaling the Court's enduring legacy and adherence to historical procedures since its inception with the Judiciary Act of 1789.