The Republican-led resolution, which requires two-thirds support in the House and the Senate, is a response to increasing openness among Democrats to expand the court.

The vote was 212-206. All but one Democrat voted against it, as openness within the party to expand the high court by four seats grows.

The joint resolution, offered by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., calls for amending the Constitution to say: “The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine justices consisting of one chief justice and eight associate justices.”

The office of House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., encouraged lawmakers to vote “no,” saying the amendment would take away a power intended for Congress and do nothing to address the “affordability crisis” under President Donald Trump.

“This proposed constitutional amendment would permanently fix the number of Supreme Court justices at nine, stripping Congress of yet another constitutional authority that is meant to be controlled by the American people’s representatives,” Clark’s office wrote to lawmakers Wednesday ahead of the vote

  • gastroglizzy@piefed.socialEnglish
    6·
    14 days ago

    Term limits. Expand the court.

    There were originally nine justices, one for each of the nine court circuits. There are now 13 (ish?) circuits. Increasing the number of justices isn’t some radical idea that came from nowhere, it merely aligns us with the original convention.