South Dakota legislation · 101st Legislature (2026)
South Dakota SJR502: applying to the United States Congress under Article V of the United States Constitution to call for a convention proposing an a
Status: Failed, February 25, 2026
applying to the United States Congress under Article V of the United States Constitution to call for a convention proposing an amendment to the constitution fixing the number of justices of the United States Supreme Court at one chief justice and eight associate justices.
What the bill says
A joint resolution applying to the United States Congress under Article V of the United States Constitution to call for a convention proposing an amendment to the constitution fixing the number of justices of the United States Supreme Court at one chief justice and eight associate justices.
From the introduced text, December 19, 2025:
A JOINT RESOLUTION applying to the United States Congress under Article V of the United States Constitution to call for a convention proposing an amendment to the constitution fixing the number of justices of the United States Supreme Court at one chief justice and eight associate justices. Section 1. [ADDED: WHEREAS, the United States Constitution does not set the number of justices that comprise the United States Supreme Court, but leaves it to Congress to ordain and establish both the Supreme Court and all inferior federal Courts; and] Section 2. [ADDED: WHEREAS, the number of Supreme Court justices has been used in the past as a political tool, with the number of justices being increased or decreased in order to allow or prevent presidents from being able to appoint justices to the court; and] Section 3. [ADDED: WHEREAS, in the Judiciary Act of 1789, the First Congress set the number of Supreme Court justices at six, with one chief justice and five associate justices; and] Section 4. [ADDED: WHEREAS, in the wake of the election of 1800, Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1801, and reduced the number of Supreme Court justices from six to five, effective upon the next vacancy in the Court, in order to deprive the President-elect, Thomas Jefferson, of the ability to fill the vacancy; and] …
Sponsors
- Greg Jamison (R, HD-012) · primary sponsor
- Michael Rohl (R, SD-001) · primary sponsor
- Aaron Aylward (R, HD-006)
- Casey Crabtree (R, SD-008)
- Kevin Jensen (R, SD-016)
- Tom Pischke (R, 25)
- Matt Roby (R, HD-005)
- John Shubeck (R, HD-016)
- Glen Vilhauer (R, SD-005)
- Larry Zikmund (R, 14)
Latest actions
- : Deferred to the 41st legislative day
- : Do Pass
- : Scheduled for hearing
- : Referred to State Affairs
- : First Reading House
- : Do Pass
- : Do Pass
- : Scheduled for hearing
- : First read in Senate and referred to State Affairs
Votes
- Do Pass (February 25, 2026): 4 yea, 8 nay, failed
- Deferred to the 41st legislative day (February 25, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 26, 2026): 24 yea, 10 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 23, 2026): 8 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Senate Joint Resolution, Convention of States
Common questions
- What is SJR502?
- SJR502 is a bill in the South Dakota Legislature (101st Legislature (2026)): applying to the United States Congress under Article V of the United States Constitution to call for a convention proposing an a.
- What does SJR502 do?
- In its own words: A joint resolution applying to the United States Congress under Article V of the United States Constitution to call for a convention proposing an amendment to the constitution fixing the number of justices of the United States Supreme Court at one chief justice and eight associate justices.
- What is the status of SJR502?
- Failed as of February 25, 2026. Latest action: Deferred to the 41st legislative day (February 25, 2026).
- Who sponsored SJR502?
- Greg Jamison (R, HD-012), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SJR502?
- On the South Dakota Legislature website: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/26493
Source: official South Dakota record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.