politics
Democratic Resolution Seeks to End Senate Filibuster and Consider Supreme Court Expansion
A House resolution introduced by several Democratic caucus leaders calls for ending the 60-vote filibuster threshold and examining structural changes to the Supreme Court. The measure was referred to the House Judiciary Committee and has little chance of advancing in the current Congress.
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A House resolution introduced June 24 calls for ending the Senate filibuster and considering structural changes to the Supreme Court, including possible expansion. The measure was backed by chairs of the Black, Hispanic and progressive caucuses. The resolution also seeks to restore provisions of the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court’s April 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v.
Callais. It was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
The text states that under a future “prodemocracy governing moment” Congress should eliminate the 60-vote threshold and enact reforms such as a judicial code of ethics, term limits, and court expansion. It was sponsored by Representative Greg Casar and cosponsored by Representatives Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat, Grace Meng, Hank Johnson and Kweisi Mfume.
The measure is not an official party platform and faces no realistic path forward while Republicans hold majorities in both chambers.
The Supreme Court has had nine justices since 1869, though Congress has altered its size several times. A May Marquette Law School Poll of 1,001 adults found Americans evenly split on adding justices, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
Midterm elections are scheduled for November 3. Aggregate polling from Silver Bulletin and RealClearPolling shows Democrats leading Republicans by roughly six points on the generic congressional ballot.
