Background:
During the early years of the Great Depression, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, struck down several New Deal programs as unconstitutional. These decisions included:
* Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States (1935): The Court invalidated the National Industrial Recovery Act (NRA), which had established codes of fair competition for various industries.
* United States v. Butler (1936): The Court struck down the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), which had imposed taxes on processors of farm products to finance subsidies to farmers.
* Carter v. Carter Coal Co. (1936): The Court invalidated the Bituminous Coal Conservation Act, which had regulated the coal industry.
Roosevelt's Proposal:
In response to these decisions, President Roosevelt proposed a plan to enlarge the Supreme Court. He argued that the Court had become too conservative and that it was preventing the federal government from taking necessary actions to address the economic crisis. Roosevelt's plan would have allowed him to appoint up to six additional justices to the Court, giving him a majority and ensuring that his policies would be upheld.
Opposition and Failure:
Roosevelt's proposal faced strong opposition from both the public and Congress. Many Americans were concerned about the potential damage to the independence and integrity of the Supreme Court. Congress also rejected the plan, and it was ultimately defeated.
Significance:
The court-packing plan was a controversial episode in American history that raised important questions about the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches of government. Although the plan failed, it had a lasting impact on the relationship between the Court and the presidency, and it contributed to Roosevelt's decline in popularity.
In the aftermath of the court-packing plan, the Supreme Court began to adopt a more moderate stance and upheld several New Deal programs. This shift in the Court's position is often attributed to the influence of Roosevelt's appointees, as well as the changing economic and political climate of the country.