Many on the left called for reform of America's highest judicial body after President-elect Donald Trump appointed three of its members.

The latest example of that phenomenon came this week when two senators proposed removing lifetime tenure from Supreme Court justices. 

Constitutional amendment would impose term limits

According to Fox News, Vermont Democratic Sen. Peter Welch and West Virginia independent Sen. Joe Manchin recently put forward a constitutional amendment.

Under its provisions, newly appointed justices would only serve 18-year terms while the Supreme Court's size would be fixed at nine justices. The amendment would not impact those justices who are currently serving.

"I'm proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Welch that would establish 18-year term limits for Justices of the United States Supreme Court," Manchin was quoted as saying in a press release.

"The current lifetime appointment structure is broken and fuels polarizing confirmation battles and political posturing that has eroded public confidence in the highest court in our land," the senator continued.

Manchin went on to say that encourages his "colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join our legislation to help restore faith in our judicial system."

Elizabeth Warren says changes can be made legislatively

Manchin and Welch are not alone in pushing changes to the Supreme Court, as Newsweek noted that Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren is as well.

However, Warren maintains that imposing term limits on justices as well as increasing the Supreme Court's size could both be achieved without resorting to a constitutional amendment.

"We're working on changes to the Supreme Court," Warren was quoted as telling CNN host Jake Tapper during a July appearance on "State of the Union."

"It can be term limits; it could be adding the number of justices — things we can do without having to have a constitutional amendment," she added.

Mike Johnson warns that changes will "erode not only the rule of law"

For their part, Republicans have been quick to push back on Supreme Court reform, with House Speaker Mike Johnson warning that it will "erode not only the rule of law."

President Biden’s proposal to radically overhaul the U.S. Supreme Court would tilt the balance of power and erode not only the rule of law, but the American people’s faith in our system of justice.

This proposal is the logical conclusion to the Biden-Harris Administration and…

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) July 29, 2024

"It is telling that Democrats want to change the system that has guided our nation since its founding simply because they disagree with some of the Court’s recent decisions," Johnson said in a social media post earlier this year.