# What This Bill Actually Does

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to lock the Supreme Court at exactly nine justices. Right now, Congress has the power to change the number of Supreme Court justices whenever it wants—there's nothing in the Constitution that says it has to be nine. This bill would change that by making nine justices a permanent constitutional requirement that couldn't be altered without another constitutional amendment.

The real-world impact of this is about preventing what's called "court packing." When one political party controls Congress and the presidency, they could theoretically add more justices to shift the Court's ideological balance in their favor. For example, if Democrats controlled everything, they could add four justices who lean liberal. If Republicans controlled everything later, they could add four conservative justices. This bill stops that from happening by cementing the number at nine, no matter which party is in power.

Why does this matter to you? The Supreme Court makes decisions that affect your daily life—cases about abortion rights, voting access, gun control, healthcare, and workplace discrimination all go through the Court. If the number of justices could keep changing based on which party wins elections, the Court could swing dramatically every few years. Supporters of this amendment argue that having a fixed number protects the Court's independence and stability. Critics counter that the Constitution should be flexible enough to adapt to changing times, and that locking in nine justices prevents future generations from adjusting the Court if they think it's necessary.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of nine justices.

Johnson, Dusty

<p>This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the Supreme Court to consist of nine Justices. </p>