S.J.Res. 9: 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.

117th Congress · introduced 2021-02-25 · Law · Latest: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 8.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-02-25 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 8. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

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.

Plain summary

This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution to require that the Supreme Court consist of nine Justices.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

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.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] · 20 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Roger F. Wicker (R-MS), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Kennedy (R-LA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Todd Young (R-IN)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] reported raising $12.4 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Joint resolution: In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117sjres9.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/sjres>

Record fed-us-cong117-sjres9 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117