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In reply to the discussion: Question: Was Biden signalling to GOP that if u dare confirm Barrett he will expand the courts? [View all]Skraxx
(2,971 posts)18. Incorrect, It Has Been 9 Since the 1860's, FDR threatened to increase but ultimately didn't.
https://www.britannica.com/story/why-are-there-nine-justices-on-the-us-supreme-court
"Basically, the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to determine how many justices sit on SCOTUS. This number has ranged between 5 and 10, but since 1869 the number has been set at 9."
--snip--
"President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a reorganization bill to Congress that would allow the president to appoint a new justice for each one who was at least 70 years old. Congress did not oblige, of course: this was seen as a court-packing scheme that would have given Roosevelt too much power. Roosevelts motives were to push through his New Deal, which SCOTUS had continually worked against during the presidents first term."
"Basically, the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to determine how many justices sit on SCOTUS. This number has ranged between 5 and 10, but since 1869 the number has been set at 9."
--snip--
"President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a reorganization bill to Congress that would allow the president to appoint a new justice for each one who was at least 70 years old. Congress did not oblige, of course: this was seen as a court-packing scheme that would have given Roosevelt too much power. Roosevelts motives were to push through his New Deal, which SCOTUS had continually worked against during the presidents first term."
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Question: Was Biden signalling to GOP that if u dare confirm Barrett he will expand the courts? [View all]
onetexan
Oct 2020
OP
Because they ARE lifetime appointments is the exact reason why they should be made individually less
Goodheart
Oct 2020
#35
He didn't actually say anything more about this before election day, did he? (n/t)
thesquanderer
Nov 2020
#38
Completely agree. I took it to mean Joe was lobbing a warning to GOP that if u dare i will do it.
onetexan
Oct 2020
#9
Not recently that I know of but she was opposed to ending it when the Dems were in charge.
lark
Oct 2020
#37
It's not up to him; there's currently a statute setting the number at 9,
The Velveteen Ocelot
Oct 2020
#8
Incorrect, It Has Been 9 Since the 1860's, FDR threatened to increase but ultimately didn't.
Skraxx
Oct 2020
#18
Agree. FDR didn't like what the court was doing with some of his New Deal programs
The Velveteen Ocelot
Oct 2020
#25