Court packing plan

Definition

The court packing plan was a proposal by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937 to increase the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court from nine to fifteen. This plan aimed to gain favorable rulings for New Deal legislation by appointing justices who would support his policies, as he faced opposition from the existing conservative majority that had struck down several key New Deal programs.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The court packing plan proposed adding up to six new justices to the Supreme Court, which would allow Roosevelt to shift the balance of power in favor of his administration.
2. Roosevelt's plan was met with significant backlash from both political opponents and members of his own party, leading to a major controversy over judicial independence.
3. The court packing proposal ultimately failed to pass Congress, significantly affecting Roosevelt's political capital and altering his approach to judicial appointments.
4. Despite the failure of the plan, the Supreme Court began to rule more favorably on New Deal legislation shortly after its introduction, a shift often attributed to public pressure and Roosevelt's threat.
5. The court packing controversy raised important questions about the separation of powers and the limits of executive influence over the judiciary in American democracy.

Review Questions

• What were the main motivations behind Roosevelt's court packing plan, and how did it aim to influence the Supreme Court's decisions?
  • Roosevelt's main motivation for proposing the court packing plan was to secure favorable rulings for his New Deal legislation, which had faced significant opposition from a conservative majority in the Supreme Court. He believed that increasing the number of justices would enable him to appoint those sympathetic to his policies and thus protect his reforms from judicial challenges. The proposal reflected Roosevelt's frustration with the Court’s previous rulings that invalidated key aspects of the New Deal.
• How did public and political reactions to the court packing plan affect Roosevelt's presidency and future judicial appointments?
  • The public and political backlash against the court packing plan significantly weakened Roosevelt's standing among both voters and members of Congress. Critics argued that it threatened the independence of the judiciary and set a dangerous precedent for executive overreach. As a result, Roosevelt had to reconsider his approach to judicial appointments, focusing instead on selecting justices who might align with his agenda without overtly attempting to manipulate the Court's structure.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of the court packing plan on American political discourse regarding judicial independence and executive power.
  • The court packing plan left a lasting impact on American political discourse by intensifying debates around judicial independence and the proper limits of executive power. It underscored concerns about potential abuses in attempts to influence or control judicial outcomes, reinforcing a commitment among many lawmakers and citizens to uphold a balance between branches of government. The controversy also set a precedent for future presidents regarding how they might approach judicial appointments, highlighting the need for careful consideration of how their actions could be perceived as undermining democratic institutions.

Related terms

New Deal: A series of programs and policies instituted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aimed at economic recovery and social reform.

Supreme Court: The highest court in the United States, which has the ultimate authority in interpreting the Constitution and reviewing laws passed by Congress.

Judicial Review: The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the Constitution, allowing them to invalidate legislation or executive actions that conflict with constitutional principles.