Congress reduced the size of the US Supreme Court from 10 to 7 justices in the Judiciary Act of 1866 in order to prevent President Andrew Johnson from appointing any justices to vacancies on the Court. Congress increased the size of the Court from 7 to 9 after Johnson left office, in the Judiciary Act of 1869. The number of seats has remained constant ever since.
Congress set the Court's membership at nine in the Judiciary Act of 1869. This number has remained the same ever since.
For more information, see Related Questions, below.
congress
Currently, there are nine Supreme Court justices on the United States Supreme Court. The number of justices is set by Congress and has varied from five to 10. There have been nine justices since 1869. In 1937, Franklin Roosevelt attempted to add six more justices to the Supreme Court. He felt the court was obstructing much of his New Deal policies and adding more members who would agree with his views would help. This was termed the "Court Packing Plan." However, Congress did not agree and so the number remains at nine.
Congress decides how many justices should be on the US Supreme Court. The current number, nine, was set by the Judiciary Act of 1869.
In 1869, Congress raised the number of justices to nine, where it has stood ever since.
The Constitution gives the power of deciding the number of Supreme Court justices to Congress. In 1789, Congress called for the six appointed justices. As the nation grew in area and more judicial circuits were added, Congress adjusted the number of Supreme Court justices. In 1807, Congress adjusted the number to seven; in in 1837, nine; in 1863, ten; and in 1869, back to nine Supreme Court justices.
Supreme Court Justices (there are nine of them)
In 1869, Congress raised the number of justices to nine, where it has stood ever since.
Nine
Yes, if Congress passes legislation enlarging the Supreme Court from nine to eleven members; otherwise, no.
Nine justices
nine
No. The US Constitution vests Congress with the authority to determine the structure of the federal courts, including the US Supreme Court. Congress set the number of justices on the Court at nine in the Judiciary Act of 1869.
Nine Justices Nine Justices make up the current Supreme Court: one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. There have been 103 Associate Justices in the Court's history.