WASHINGTON — The US House of Representatives has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at permanently preserving the nine-member structure of the Supreme Court, after the measure failed to secure the two-thirds majority required for passage.

The proposal, known as the “Keep 9” amendment, sought to prevent Congress from altering the number of justices on the nation’s highest court. The Supreme Court has had nine justices for the past 157 years, making the proposal an attempt to preserve its long-standing composition through a constitutional amendment.

The measure received only limited support in the House. One Democratic member voted in favour, while 205 lawmakers voted against it, leaving the proposal well short of the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment.

Separately, the SAVE America Act, which would require individuals to provide proof of US citizenship when registering to vote and present photo identification when casting a ballot, passed the House in February. However, the legislation failed to advance in the Senate and effectively stalled in March.

The two measures reflect continuing political divisions in Washington over the structure of the Supreme Court and election regulations. While the “Keep 9” proposal sought to preserve the Court’s nine-member composition, the SAVE America Act focused on citizenship verification and voter identification requirements.