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The '''Human Life Amendment''' is the name for any amendment to the [[United States Constitution]] that would have the effect of overturning ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', the Supreme Court decision that denied states the authority to regulate [[abortion]]. Several different Human Life Amendments have been proposed in Congress since 1973, including one introduced by congressman [[Lawrence Joseph Hogan, Sr.]] eight days following the Supreme Court ruling.<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-joint-resolution/261 H.J.Res.261 - Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing the right to life to the unborn, the ill, the aged, or the incapacitated.]. ''congress.gov''. Retrieved July 24, 2021.</ref> No Human Life Amendment, however, has ever been approved by Congress.

The '''Human Life Amendment''' is the name for any amendment to the [[United States Constitution]] that would have the effect of overturning ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', the Supreme Court decision that denied states the authority to regulate [[abortion]]. Several different Human Life Amendments have been proposed in Congress since 1973, including one introduced by congressman [[Lawrence Joseph Hogan, Sr.]] eight days following the Supreme Court ruling.<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-joint-resolution/261 H.J.Res.261 - Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing the right to life to the unborn, the ill, the aged, or the incapacitated.]. ''congress.gov''. Retrieved July 24, 2021.</ref>

 

No Human Life Amendment, however, has ever been approved by Congress. Only the [[Orrin Hatch]]/Thomas Eagleton Amendment ever received a [[roll call vote]], though it failed on the Senate floor by a 49–50 vote,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/98-1983/s169 TO PASS S. J. RES. 3, A MEASURE AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY IN CONGRESS AND THE STATES WITH RESPECT TO ABORTION, THEREBY OVERTURNING THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IN ROE VS. WADE. (MOTION FAILED;2/3 REQUIR.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 24, 2021.</ref> falling far short of the required two-thirds majority for approving constitutional amendments. A number of [[liberal Republican]]s including [[Alan Simpson]], [[John Tower]], and [[Nancy Kassebaum]] voted "nay", while some Northern Democrats broke ranks in support.

There have been several different Human Life Amendments, but the text of the most common version reads as follows:

There have been several different Human Life Amendments, but the text of the most common version reads as follows: