Packing Plan Flashcards
1
Q
Why did Roosevelt create the ‘Packing Plan’?
A
- Supreme Court declared several New Deal laws unconstitutional
- Anticipated ongoing resistance due to judges with conservative views and some personally disliked him
- Proposed adding six new pro-New Deal judged to outnumber opposition
2
Q
When did Roosevelt devise the packing plan?
A
After winning a landslide victory in the 1936 presidential election
3
Q
Who opposed Roosevelt’s ‘Packing Plan’?
A
- Republicans in Congress
- His Vice President
- The public
4
Q
Why did Roosevelt’s ‘Packing Plan’ face such intense disapporval?
A
- Supreme Court seen as ‘sacred cow’, symbolised liberty and judicial independence
- Risked upsetting balance of three branches of government
- President too powerful
- Some believed Roosevelt was attempting a dictatorship
5
Q
Why was the ‘Packing Plan’ easily rejected?
A
- Did not need additional judges to get through workload
- Not true that it was full of old Republican reactionaries (traditionalists)
- Oldest judge was the most liberal (open minded)
6
Q
How did FDR alienate liberal judges?
A
- Claimed that they were too old to do their jobs
- But they were still mentally sharp and active
7
Q
How did FDR alienate democratic leaders?
A
- Did not consult Congress leaders before introducing the plan, showed his arrogance
- Believed plan was a political burden, could cost them votes
8
Q
Was the ‘Packing Plan’ a complete failure?
A
- Overwhelming extent (yes in many respects)
- Forced to abandon plan = significant defeat
- Damaged image of political invisibility
- Disillusioned voters who valued separation of power
- Widened division between Northerners and Southerners in the Democratic power (south: suspicious of improving Black lives and now aiming dictatorship)
- Controversy gave Republican party a ‘new lease on life’, though not strong enough to win an election
9
Q
Did the ‘Packing Plan’ achieve any success?
A
- Indirect
- Frightened the Supreme Court
- Approved New Deal legislation (e.g. National Labour Relations Act)
- Paid high price but once carefully phrased and drafted, he got what he wanted
