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House rejects GOP constitutional amendment to limit Supreme Court to 9 justices
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- A Republican-led constitutional amendment to permanently limit the Supreme Court to nine justices failed in the House, receiving 212 votes in favor but falling short of the two-thirds majority needed.
- The amendment, proposed by Rep. Andy Biggs, aimed to fix the court size to prevent future expansions, which some Democrats have supported, including proposals to increase justices to 13.
- Democrats opposed the amendment, arguing it would strip Congress of its constitutional authority to set the number of justices, a power exercised seven times since 1789 and currently set at nine since 1869.
- The vote is part of broader Republican efforts to counter the Democratic Socialists of America, whose platform includes replacing the Supreme Court with a judiciary subordinate to Congress.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the importance of maintaining nine justices to avoid politicizing the court, while Democrats accused Republicans of trying to lock in a conservative majority ahead of upcoming elections.
