# What are the mechanics of changing the a US Supreme Court Justice's term

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-mechanics-of-changing-the-a-us-supreme-court-justices-term/924064>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [October 27, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-mechanics-of-changing-the-a-us-supreme-court-justices-term/924064 "2020-10-27T21:59:32Z")\
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**Author:** ![zamboniracer2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zamboniracer2/32/3169_2.png) [@zamboniracer2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer2)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-mechanics-of-changing-the-a-us-supreme-court-justices-term/924064/1 "2020-10-27T21:59:32Z")

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I’ve been wondering what the mechanics and procedures to changing the US Supreme Court. I understand that the number of judges can be changed by US Statute, passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President, or if the President vetoes it, by passing it though Congress by 2/3rds of each house. The length of a justice’s term, which currently is for the justice’s lifetime or until he/she retires, can only be changed by a Constitutional Amendment. Does that include all the current Justices, or must that apply only to the position of newly created judgeships. Can a constitutional amendment change the term of an existing term, so Chief Roberts’ seat expires a week from next Tuesday?

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