S.J.Res. 9Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)Introduced

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.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 7, 2026 at 11:17 PM UTC

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would set the size of the United States Supreme Court at nine justices. If ratified by three‑quarters of the states within seven years, the amendment would become part of the Constitution and dictate the number of justices serving on the Court. It affects the structure of the federal judiciary and all future appointments to the Court.

Key Provisions

The amendment text states: “The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine justices.”

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 8.

March 1, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 25, 2021

SenateCalendars

Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

February 25, 2021

SenateCalendars

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 8.

March 1, 2021

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S.J.Res. 9 on the floor

2 Democrats

Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Mar 1, 2021

Madam President, I understand there are two measures at the desk due for a second reading en bloc. Madam President, in order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I…

Sen. Catherine Cortez MastoD-NV · Feb 25, 2021

Mr. President, I understand that there are two measures at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc. Mr. President, I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en…

Bill Text

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Placed on Calendar SenateIssued March 1, 2021

IIA

Calendar No. 8

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. J. RES. 9

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 25, 2021

Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Lee, Mr. Portman, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Daines, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Inhofe, and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read the first time

March 1, 2021

Read the second time and placed on the calendar

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.

That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

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The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine justices.

March 1, 2021

Read the second time and placed on the calendar