Bill · S.J.Res. 16· Senate(119-SJRES-16)
A joint resolution 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
- 2/6/2025
- Last activity
- 2/6/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Ted Cruz
- Cosponsors
- - 22 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The goal of the amendment is to establish a specific size for the Supreme Court. It would require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of exactly nine justices. This amendment would become part of the Constitution once ratified by three-fourths of the states within seven years.
Yes
Does this give the federal government more power?+1
The amendment establishes a permanent constitutional requirement for the composition of the federal judiciary.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+1
The bill provides clarity regarding the permanent size of the Supreme Court.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+1
The bill provides structural stability to the Supreme Court by fixing its size at nine justices.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Fixed Court Size: By requiring the Supreme Court to be composed of nine justices, the bill establishes a specific number for the Court's composition. (Article--)
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+1Improves Government Transparency+1Increases Federal Power+1
- 4/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 19 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- 119-HJRES-1: 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.
- 119-HJRES-28: 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.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Jim BanksRepublican · Indiana
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Mike CrapoRepublican · Idaho
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
Kevin CramerRepublican · North Dakota
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
Deb FischerRepublican · Nebraska
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Bill HagertyRepublican · Tennessee
John HoevenRepublican · North Dakota
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
Ashley MoodyRepublican · Florida
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana