Rep. Mark Green Mark GreenGOP lawmakers want answers from Disney on Mulan, China House GOP Steering Committee selects four members for new committee positions Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese hackers accused of targeting COVID-19 research | House votes to ban TikTok on government devices MORE (R-Tenn.) on Tuesday announced he will introduce a constitutional amendment this week to limit the number of Supreme Court justices to nine after several Democratic presidential candidates have floated the idea of expanding the high court’s bench.

“This Thursday, I will be introducing a constitutional amendment that would limit the number of Supreme Court justices to 9 — the number of seats since 1869. The Supreme Court must remain a fair and impartial branch of government not beholden to party,” Green said in a statement.

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“Schemes to pack the court are dangerous to the Founders' vision of an independent judiciary that serves as a check on both the Executive and Legislative branches of government," he continued.

Green's proposal comes in response to comments from several contenders in the 2020 Democratic primary pack who have expressed openness to boosting the number of Supreme Court justices in response to what they believe is recent politicization of the court.

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 Democratic hopeful, said that adding seats on the court is one way to keep it from being "basically ruined."

“This central objective that is to prevent the Supreme Court from continuing on this trajectory to become basically ruined by being a nakedly political institution,” Buttigieg said during an interview with “Pod Save America.”

“This idea of adding justices is one way to do it,” he added.

Buttigieg and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), another 2020 candidate, have suggested a reform allowing Republicans to appoint five justices and Democrats to appoint five justices. The 10 justices would then agree on five more justices, bringing the court’s total to 15 seats.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHarris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda Judd Gregg: The Kamala threat — the Californiaization of America GOP set to release controversial Biden report MORE (D-Mass.) and Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice First presidential debate to cover coronavirus, Supreme Court Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (D-Calif.) have said the prospect of expanding the Supreme Court should be part of the larger conversation about how Democrats want to approach the judicial system. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Suburban moms are going to decide the 2020 election Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits MORE (D-N.Y.) told “Pod Save America” that the idea was “interesting” and she would “need to think more about it.”

Other candidates have not shut down the idea of further discussing expanding the high court, but top Senate Democrats have not jumped in to back the idea.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerSenate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' Jacobin editor: Primarying Schumer would force him to fight Trump's SCOTUS nominee MORE (D-N.Y.) has not weighed in on the prospect, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinBiden leads Trump by 12 points among Catholic voters: poll Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court McConnell says Trump nominee to replace Ginsburg will get Senate vote MORE (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the current total of nine justices is “appropriate.”

Republicans have lashed out at the idea, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.) saying Democrats are “scrounging through the ash-heap of American history” for their ideas” and Sen. John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas), a member of Senate GOP leadership, calling the prospect “radical.”

Democrats have been outraged at Republicans’ handling of the courts since they blocked Merrick Garland Merrick Brian GarlandPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez exchange Ginsburg memories MORE, Obama's final Supreme Court nominee, from getting a committee hearing in 2016.

Republicans also used their united hold on the federal government from 2017 to 2019 to confirm several judges to federal posts.