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| | The most famous example of a proposed amendment that was never ratified was the so-called "Equal Rights Amendment" (ERA), which was supported by the leaders of both political parties, by all of the media, and passed Congress by almost unanimous votes. The ERA stated: | | The most famous example of a proposed amendment that was never ratified was the so-called "Equal Rights Amendment" (ERA), which was supported by the leaders of both political parties, by all of the media, and passed Congress by almost unanimous votes. The ERA stated: |
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| − | Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. | + | :Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. |
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| − | Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. | + | :Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. |
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| − | Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification. | + | :Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification. |
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| − | After it swiftly passed legislatures in about 32 states, Phyllis Schlafly organized grassroots opposition to under the name "Stop ERA." The implications of ERA, particularly when applied by liberal courts, were to prohibit allowing sensible differences between men and women. If men were drafted into war, then women must be drafted into war. Abortion, even taxpayer-funded abortion, would become law in order to ensure that women could end pregnancies and be just like men. Marriage could no longer be limited to one man and one woman. And so on. | + | After it swiftly passed legislatures in about 32 states, Phyllis Schlafly organized grassroots opposition to under the name "Stop ERA." The implications of ERA, particularly when applied by liberal courts, were to prohibit allowing sensible differences between men and women. If men were drafted into war, then women must be drafted into war. Abortion, even taxpayer-funded abortion, would become law in order to ensure that women could end pregnancies and be just like men. Marriage could no longer be limited to one man and one woman. ERA would give vast new authority to federal courts, over issues that have always been handled by local state courts. And so on. |
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| | In one of the most stunning political upsets in American history. ratification of ERA was halted at 35 States, 3 short of the 38 States needed to become part of the Constitution. Congress even extended the deadline for ratification from 1979 to 1982, but no additional States passed it, and a few States even rescinded their prior passage of it. On June 30, 1982, the last day of the ratification period set by Congress, Stop ERA group held a victory party in D.C. - which your instructor attended. | | In one of the most stunning political upsets in American history. ratification of ERA was halted at 35 States, 3 short of the 38 States needed to become part of the Constitution. Congress even extended the deadline for ratification from 1979 to 1982, but no additional States passed it, and a few States even rescinded their prior passage of it. On June 30, 1982, the last day of the ratification period set by Congress, Stop ERA group held a victory party in D.C. - which your instructor attended. |