The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a Republican-proposed constitutional amendment to permanently limit the Supreme Court's size to nine justices, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for passage.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. House rejected a Republican-proposed constitutional amendment to cap the Supreme Court's size at nine justices, falling short of the required two-thirds majority. The vote was largely along party lines, with only one Democrat supporting it. Republicans framed the issue as protecting judicial independence ahead of midterm elections.
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▼Source Claims Check
High ConsensusAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voting Outcome | Broad Agreement | 212-206 vote to reject amendment | |
| Constitutional Requirement For Passage | Broad Agreement | two-thirds majority required for passage | |
| Number Of Justices Proposed By Democrats In April 2021 | Broad Agreement | Democrats proposed expanding to 13 justices |
Voting Outcome
Broad Agreement212-206 vote to reject amendment
Constitutional Requirement For Passage
Broad Agreementtwo-thirds majority required for passage
Number Of Justices Proposed By Democrats In April 2021
Broad AgreementDemocrats proposed expanding to 13 justices
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The vote on Wednesday was largely along party lines, with 212 Republicans in favor and 206 Democrats opposed. Representative Don Davis of North Carolina was the only Democrat to support the amendment, while independent Representative Kevin Kiley of California voted against it. The measure needed a two-thirds majority to advance.
The amendment's failure comes amid growing calls from some Democrats to expand the Supreme Court to counter its conservative supermajority. In April 2021, four Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation proposing an expansion to 13 justices, citing what they described as "norm-breaking actions by Republicans." The issue has resurfaced during the midterm election season.
The U.S. Constitution does not specify the number of Supreme Court justices, leaving that decision to Congress. The court's size has fluctuated over time and was set at nine in 1869. The most famous attempt to change its composition came from President Franklin D Roosevelt in 1937, who proposed adding up to six justices but faced widespread criticism.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.