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The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the [[United States Constitution | United States Constitution]] passed by Congress in 1972 and sent to the states for ratification within a deadline of seven years.  The amendment, which was untitled, stated:

The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the [[United States Constitution | United States Constitution]] passed by Congress in 1972 and sent to the states for ratification within a deadline of seven years.  The amendment, which was untitled, stated:

<code>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 | sex]].</code>

: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 | sex]].

<code>SEC. 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.</code>

:SECTION 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.</code>

<code>SEC. 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.</code>

:SECTION 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

The purpose and effect of the Amendment would be to prohibit many legal distinctions between men and women, and boys and girls.  An all-male draft or male-only combat regimens would presumably become illegal.  But equal representation of boys and girls on sports teams, and the termination of all-boys or all-girls sports teams, would probably not be required, since the courts usually treat some gender distinctions as a ''bona fida operating qualification'' for which discrimination is allowed.

The purpose and effect of the Amendment would be to prohibit many legal distinctions between men and women, and boys and girls.  An all-male draft or male-only combat regimens would presumably become illegal.  But equal representation of boys and girls on sports teams, and the termination of all-boys or all-girls sports teams, would probably not be required, since the courts usually treat some gender distinctions as a ''bona fida operating qualification'' for which discrimination is allowed.

==History==

==History==

In 1923 AD, three years after women won the right to vote, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first introduced in Congress by Senator Curtis and Representative Anthony, both Republicans. It is reintroduced in every session of Congress for 49 consecutive years.<ref>http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/mss/eadxmlmss/eadpdfmss/2003/ms003077.pdf</ref>

In 1923, three years after women won the right to vote, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first introduced in [[Congress]] and rejected in every one of its sessions until 1972.<ref>http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/mss/eadxmlmss/eadpdfmss/2003/ms003077.pdf</ref>

It is authored by Alice Paul, head of the National Women's Party, who led the suffrage campaign. Congressman Anthony is the nephew of suffragist Susan B. Anthony.<ref>http://www.now.org/issues/economic/cea/history.html#1923</ref>

It was initially authored by [[Alice Paul]], head of the National Women's Party, who led the suffrage campaign. The original version of the ERA stated that "Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction."

Inclusion of support for the ERA in the 1940 Republican Platform gave it legitimacy.<ref> http://www.jofreeman.com/lawandpolicy/eraname.htm</ref>

Much of the advocacy for the Equal Rights Amendment is baseless.  For example, a pro-ERA site claims that "[t]he new Constitution's promised rights were fully enjoyed only by certain white males. Women were treated according to social tradition and English common law and were denied most legal rights. In general they could not vote, own property, keep their own wages, or even have custody of their children."<ref>http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/era.htm</ref>

In fact, the [[U.S. Constitution]] has never discriminated against women.  It has always been gender-neutral.

*"The new Constitution’s promised rights were fully enjoyed only by certain white males. Women were treated according to social tradition and English common law and were denied most legal rights. In general they could not vote, own property, keep their own wages, or even have custody of their children."

*"... the first Woman’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls ... a two-day meeting of 300 women and men to call for [[justice]] for women in a society where they were systematically barred from the [[rights]] and [[privilege]]s of citizens." [http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/era.htm]

==Canadian Equivalent==

==Canadian Equivalent==