The United States House of Representatives has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have permanently limited the size of the Supreme Court to nine justices.
The measure, backed by Republicans, received 212 votes in favour and 206 against on Wednesday. However, it failed to secure the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment to pass.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson criticised Democrats who opposed the proposal, arguing that lawmakers who had sworn to defend the US Constitution should also support protecting the integrity of the Supreme Court.
Only one Democrat, Representative Don Davis of North Carolina, voted in favour of the amendment. Independent Representative Kevin Kiley of California, who normally caucuses with Republicans, voted against it.
The vote comes as Republicans and Democrats continue to clash over the future composition of the Supreme Court ahead of the November midterm elections.
Some Democrats have advocated expanding the court to reduce what they describe as its conservative imbalance. The issue gained renewed attention after former President Donald Trump appointed three justices during his first term, helping create a conservative majority that has subsequently delivered several legal victories for his administration.
The US Constitution establishes the Supreme Court but does not specify how many justices it must have. Congress therefore has the authority to determine the number of seats.
The court originally had six justices when Congress established it in 1789. Its size changed several times before being set at nine justices in 1869.
The debate over expanding the court is not new. Former President Franklin D Roosevelt proposed increasing its size in 1937, although his plan was ultimately unsuccessful.
The issue has returned to the political spotlight ahead of the midterm elections. Democratic Senator Jim Clyburn and former Vice President Kamala Harris have both expressed support for expanding the court, with Harris previously suggesting that Democrats should consider increasing the number of justices to 13.
Republicans have strongly opposed such proposals, arguing that changing the court's composition could threaten the independence of the federal judiciary.
The latest House vote therefore represents another setback for efforts to constitutionally fix the Supreme Court's size at nine members, while the broader political debate over possible expansion is likely to continue.
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