Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, is known for his New Deal policies that helped the country recover from the Great Depression. However, he also made a controversial move that sparked a heated debate in American politics: packing the Supreme Court.
What is Court Packing?
Court packing, also known as judicial packing, is the act of adding more judges to a court in order to change its ideological balance. This can be done by the President or Congress, depending on the country's legal system.
In the case of the US Supreme Court, the number of justices is not fixed by the Constitution. It is determined by Congress and has changed several times throughout history. At the time of FDR's presidency, there were nine justices on the Supreme Court.
The Background of FDR's Court Packing Plan
In 1937, FDR was reelected for a second term and had a strong mandate to continue his New Deal policies. However, many of his initiatives were struck down by the Supreme Court, which was dominated by conservative justices.
FDR believed that the Court was standing in the way of progress and needed to be reformed. He proposed a plan to add up to six new justices to the Court, effectively giving him the power to appoint judges who would be more sympathetic to his policies.
The Reaction to FDR's Plan
FDR's plan was met with fierce opposition from both Republicans and Democrats. Many saw it as a power grab that would undermine the independence of the judiciary and upset the balance of power between the three branches of government.
Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts, a conservative judge who had supported some of FDR's New Deal policies, switched his vote and sided with the liberals in a case involving the National Labor Relations Board. This became known as the "switch in time that saved nine," as it prevented FDR from being able to justify his court-packing plan.
The Legacy of FDR's Court Packing Plan
Although FDR's court-packing plan was ultimately unsuccessful, it had a lasting impact on American politics. It highlighted the importance of the Supreme Court in shaping the country's laws and policies, and the need for an independent judiciary that is free from political interference.
It also demonstrated the limits of presidential power and the importance of checks and balances in the US political system. FDR's plan was a reminder that even the most popular and powerful presidents must respect the Constitution and the rule of law.
Conclusion
FDR's court-packing plan was a bold and controversial move that tested the limits of presidential power and the independence of the judiciary. Although it failed to achieve its intended goal, it had a lasting impact on American politics and the role of the Supreme Court in shaping the country's laws and policies.