A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Supporting a United States Constitutional amendment to retain nine justices on the United States Supreme Court.

WHEREAS, an independent United States Supreme Court is an essential component in this nation's system of checks and balances and plays an integral part in protecting our constitutional rights; and

WHEREAS, for more than one hundred fifty years, the United States Supreme Court has consisted of nine justices; and

WHEREAS, the executive and legislative branches of our federal government should be precluded from undermining the integrity and independence of the United States Supreme Court by altering the number of justices on the court:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the Ninety-Sixth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Legislature supports an amendment to the Constitution of the United States for the purpose of providing that the Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine justices; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature commends United States Congressman Dusty Johnson for introducing legislation to achieve the purpose stated herein; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the clerk of the Senate forward copies of this resolution to the president pro tempore and secretary of the United States Senate, the speaker and clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the South Dakota congressional delegation.