HJRES 1119th CongressIn Committee

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.

Introduced: Jan 3, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This joint resolution would propose a constitutional amendment to fix the size of the Supreme Court at nine justices—one chief justice and eight associate justices. It would require ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures within seven years after submission. If approved, the amendment would make the Court’s size immutable by ordinary statute, meaning Congress could not change the number of justices unless a subsequent constitutional amendment is enacted. The measure was introduced in the House on January 3, 2025 by Rep. Biggs (R-AZ) and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Key Points

1The amendment would establish a fixed Supreme Court size of nine justices: one chief justice and eight associate justices.
2It would be ratified through the constitutional amendment process: approval by three-fourths of the state legislatures within seven years of submission.
3It does not alter the Supreme Court’s appointment process (nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate) or other existing judicial procedures.
4There is no transitional language in the text about vacancies or how vacancies would be filled to maintain nine seats at all times.
5The measure currently has been introduced and referred to committee; sponsor listed as Mr. Biggs of Arizona.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: The Supreme Court and the broader judiciary, plus the executive and legislative branches involved in nominations and confirmations.Secondary group/area affected: Politically engaged stakeholders and the public, particularly debates over court-packing and judicial independence/balance.Additional impacts: Legal ambiguity around vacancies and enforcement (e.g., how to handle periods with unfilled seats), potential long-term effects on judicial strategy and nomination politics, and a shift in how changes to the Court’s size could be pursued (only via a constitutional amendment).

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