Mrs. Ruland's U.S. History Class Project
FDR and Court-packing
Charles, Pete, Casey, & Matthew
In the beginning of FDR's presidency, there was a balance between conservative and liberal judges in the Supreme Court. At first, the Supreme Court accepted a lot of FDR's ideas, but later they were less lenient and the thing that pushed him over the edge was the Court's decision to decline the Wagner Act and the Social Security Act. The Supreme Court was often called the "nine old men". Three times they unanimously ruled against FDR and his New Deal. At the time the Supreme Court judges were divided into three groups, conservative, liberal and moderate. After people publicly denounced the Supreme Court, the Court changed its mind on the Wagner Act and the Social Security Act. In May' Justice Van Devanter retired. The judicial reorganization bill was submitted to congress by FDR on February 5, 1937. The plan was met with much opposition from his opponents and supporters. In 1936 only 28% of the 266 federal judges were Democrats. Roosevelt had a plan to curve the Supreme Court more to his favor, his plan was the Court Reform Bill. Roosevelt proposed the idea immediately after the 1936 landslide election. Roosevelt angered his potential supporters by refusing to consult with them on the judicial reorganization bill. The judicial reorganization bill stated that for every judge over 70 a new judge would be added. The maximum amount of new judgeships was 50 and included a maximum of 6 in the Supreme Court. In August 1937 the judicial procedure reform act was passed instead of the reorganization bill. FDR's "Court Packing plan" was met with many critics. To President Roosevelt's surprise his court reform plan came with serious opposition. The press referred to it as FDR's Court Packing Scheme. Also the president was compared with Hitler because he had dictatorial power.
Most of the people who had previously supported FDR and the New Deal did not support him with his court packing scandal. The Gallup Polls were polls that were taken with a sample of about 52,200 respondents for each of the important events that occurred during FDR's presidency. The poll stated what the poll responder did as a job, how much money he made, and his/her gender and age. Unfortunately it did not show the more specific topics such as education and political views. One of the few groups of people who did not totally disown FDR and his court packing ideas were the farmers. They most likely supported him for his attempts to pass the agricultural adjustment act. The Gallup Polls in 1936 and 1937 showed farmers strong support of FDR's program. On the other hand many of FDR's former supporters were turned off by his attempted overtake of the supreme court. Many people lost the respect they once had for FDR.
Works Cited
Court Packing Political Cartoons
FDR's Presidential PoliticsIllustrates viewpoints on how Franklin Roosevelt planned to pack the Supreme Court. Has several political cartoons with analysis and questions to go along with it. Also contains background information on FDR and his plan.
This Web site shows brief overview of FDR's election into office, his New Deal Plan, and some of his obstacles he had faced during his presidency. It also has famous pictures of FDR. This site is not politically biased and therefore has a broad and accurate description of the events under his office.
FDR trying to pack the Supreme Court
Explains how FDR tried to make the Supreme Court a political institution, violating the bill of rights. Includes links for further research. Also explains Supreme Courts role in the scandal.
Social Security Online: Constitutionality of Social Security Act
This site shows an important Supreme Court ruling that led up to FDR's court packing plan. It goes in depth describing why that the supreme court ruled against the Social Security acts. It also showed the reactions of FDR to it.
Explains how FDR planned to pack the Supreme Court. Contains a brief history of FDR in the New Deal. Explains the Supreme Court's role in FDR's plan.
FDR's Court Packing Plan in the Court of Public Opinion
This site describes the critics of FDR's court packing scandal. It also gives exact information on people who apposed the court packing and what their jobs were and people who were for court packing, such as farmers. They do this through the Gallup Polls.
Court Packing: Judicial Reorganization and the End of the New Deal
This site shows FDR's "Fire Side Chat" to the United States regarding his court packing plant. The site also shows political cartoons of the court pacing plan. Along with that it shows what that FDR did and why he did it.
Fireside Chat on Reorganization of the Judiciary
This site shows FDR's presidency as a whole. It reflects on all of FDR's decisions and the effects. It also goes in depth on the New Deal and Court Packing.
Last updated March 28, 2006
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