Loading ...Senate GOP Proposes Constitutional Amendment To Limit Size Of Supreme Court
Federal laws already cap the court at nine members but a constitutional amendment would prevent future changes by Congress.
The new joint congressional resolution, the Keep Nine Amendment, was introduced after Democrats in the previous Congress proposed a series of measures to boost the number of justices and enforce ethics standards at the nation’s highest court. Republicans at the time criticized the legislation. The current limit of nine justices was established by the federal Judiciary Act of 1869. The number has not changed since then. Supreme Court justices are nominated by the sitting president and confirmation requires a simple majority vote by the Senate.
Amending the U.S. Constitution is difficult. Article V of the Constitution provides that an amendment can move forward only if it is approved by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by two-thirds of states participating in a special constitutional convention. It must then be ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the states to become part of the Constitution. The resolution states that the amendment would become effective if it is ratified “within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification.”
Republicans being dummies, as usual. I’m certainly not against a cap. Cap it at fifteen, and let Trump nominate six more Justices. What the hell do you think the Dems would do? Good Lord!
Here is a slogan for the campaign for the Keep Nine Amendment. “Keep Nine For All Time!”