Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Derek Schmidt

Republican on Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States to Require That the Supreme Court of the United States Be Composed of Nine Justices 2026-09-02

149 words · 6 sentences · 6 clauses

Statement grade

B+

Average 84 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Claims 14%Reasoning 73%Anecdote 13%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 21 wordsI have long supported the Keep Nine Amendment because I think it is the right thing to do for our Republic. Reasoning · 109 wordsAs has been stated here many times in today’s somewhat jovial but I think very serious debate, turning the Supreme Court into a political football, whose size is expanded first by Republicans, then by Democrats, whoever has the political will and whoever is aggrieved at the moment will undermine that Court’s ability to perform its unique and critical constitutional function. For all of the distress that my friends on the other side have right now in their complaints about the Court, I assure this body those will be magnified manyfold if we allow ourselves to get into a bidding war over the size of the institution across the street.Unearned certainty Mr. Speaker, Anecdote · 19 wordsI have sat there seven times at counsel table.¹ I have argued three causes.² I have second-chaired four others--³Anecdote

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 87

3 of 4 deductions are Signal

Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.

A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I have sat there seven times at counsel table.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I have argued three causes.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I have second-chaired four others--”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 4 deductions are Relevance

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.

Nothing lost points.

Reasoning · 87

0 of 4 deductions are Reasoning

Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.

Nothing lost points.

Conclusions found · 1

Conclusion“I have long supported the Keep Nine Amendment because I think it is the right thing to do for our Republic.”

Because“As has been stated here many times in today’s somewhat jovial but I think very serious debate, turning the Supreme Court into a political football, whose size is expanded first by Republicans, then by Democrats, whoever has the political will and whoever is aggrieved at the moment will undermine that Court’s ability to perform its unique and critical constitutional function.”

“For all of the distress that my friends on the other side have right now in their complaints about the Court, I assure this body those will be magnified manyfold if we allow ourselves to get into a bidding war over the size of the institution across the street.”

Reason given

Respect · no score

Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.

Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.

Clarity · 62

1 of 4 deductions are Clarity

Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “I assure this body”The speaker asserts a future outcome with personal assurance offered in place of any source or evidence.

Claims · 3

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

1“I have sat there seven times at counsel table”search
2“I have argued three causes”search
3“second-chaired four others”search

Analyzed on 2026-09-14