def METHOD_NAME(coordinates_list):
    "Return the bounding rectangle for a list of rectangles"
    if coordinates_list is None:
        return None
    if len(coordinates_list) == 0:
        return empty_rectangle
    xl, yb, xr, yt = 1.0e10, 1.0e10, -1.0e10, -1.0e10
    for xl1, yb1, xr1, yt1 in coordinates_list:
        xl = min(xl, xl1)
        yb = min(yb, yb1)
        xr = max(xr, xr1)
        yt = max(yt, yt1)
    return (xl, yb, xr, yt)