A joint resolution urging the United States Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require the Supreme Court of the United States to be composed of nine justices.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Charlie McClintock

Iowa urges Congress to amend the Constitution to fix the Supreme Court at nine justices, aiming for judicial stability and independence.

Subcommittee: Bousselot, Quirmbach, and Rowley.

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Purpose and intent

SJR 2001 is a joint resolution urging the United States Congress to propose a constitutional amendment.

The amendment would fix the size of the Supreme Court at nine justices, preventing any future expansion or reduction for political purposes.

The resolution emphasizes the importance of an independent judiciary and aims to maintain long-term stability and public confidence in the Supreme Court.

Key provisions

Text proposed to be added to the U.S. Constitution: “The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine Judges.”

The resolution directs the Iowa General Assembly to urge Congress to take action by proposing such an amendment.

If adopted, the resolution requires the Secretary of the Iowa Senate to transmit certified copies of the resolution to:

The President of the United States
The President of the United States Senate
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Members of the Iowa congressional delegation

Who/what is affected

Direct effect: The resolution itself is a formal expression of Iowa’s legislative position urging Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution.

Indirect effect: If Congress proposes and ratifies the amendment, the structure of the U.S. Supreme Court would be legally fixed at nine justices nationwide, impacting federal judiciary operations and potential court-packing debates in the future.

No immediate legal changes occur within Iowa law; the measure is an advisory/political endorsement.

Procedural and timeline notes

Status: Introduced as SJR 2001 during the 2025-2026 Iowa legislative session.

The bill is a joint resolution, not a statute, meaning it expresses a position or recommendation rather than creating state law.

Next steps (externally, not within Iowa): For the proposed amendment to take effect, it would need to be proposed by Congress and ratified by the states as dictated by the U.S. Constitution’s amendment process.

The resolution includes standard transmission instructions to the federal leadership and Iowa’s congressional delegation.

Additional considerations

The bill does not specify any preferred timing or sequencing for Congress to act; it is a formal call for action.

It reflects ongoing national debates about the size of the Supreme Court and whether court size should be fixed at nine justices.

Overall, SJR 2001 is a declaratory measure by Iowa urging Congress to amend the Constitution to fix the Supreme Court at nine justices, underscoring a preference for judicial stability and independence.

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