House Democrats defeated a constitutional amendment Wednesday to permanently cap the Supreme Court at nine justices. They voted against a Republican proposal designed to make the court's conservative majority a campaign issue ahead of the Nov. 3 elections.

House Republicans staged the vote to highlight Democratic resistance to locking in the court's size. The measure would have required a constitutional change to prevent future expansions or contractions of the bench.

The defeat occurred in a party-line vote in the House. Republicans used the floor action to draw attention to the issue as voters prepare for the November elections.

Supporters of the amendment argued that fixing the court at nine justices would provide stability and prevent politicized court packing. Opponents maintained that Congress should retain flexibility over the court's structure.

The vote followed months of debate over the Supreme Court's composition and its role in American governance. Republicans positioned the amendment as a safeguard against efforts to alter the bench for ideological reasons.

With the elections approaching, both parties are expected to continue using the Supreme Court as a central campaign theme. The failed amendment now joins other legislative efforts that stalled along partisan lines in the House.