Final answer:
No, the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, also known as Roosevelt's "court-packing scheme," did not pass through Congress. It was widely viewed as an attempt by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to gain more control over the judiciary, causing significant opposition and ultimately failing to become law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, often referred to as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "court-packing scheme", was a significant piece of proposed legislation that sought to reform the judiciary. If passed, the bill would have granted President Roosevelt the authority to appoint an extra justice for every sitting justice over the age of seventy. This was seen as a direct response to a series of Supreme Court decisions that had invalidated key parts of the New Deal legislation. However, the bill was met with considerable opposition and was viewed by many Americans as an attempt to upset the balance of power by expanding the executive influence over the judicial branch.
The bill ignited widespread controversy and was seen as Roosevelt's attempt to gain control of a judiciary that had recently thwarted aspects of his ambitious New Deal programs. Despite Roosevelt's strong push and a political climate that initially seemed favorable, the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937 did not pass through Congress. It is one of the more notable instances in U.S. history where a president attempted to modify the judiciary to obtain more favorable rulings, and its failure was a significant political setback for Roosevelt who had invested substantial political capital into the effort.