The debate over an Equal Rights Amendment began three years after women received the right to vote. We’re spotlighting the issue today, because it’s been recently re-introduced in this Congress. We hope you’ll share your views on POPVOX — and we’ll deliver your message to Congress. (How POPVOX works.)
The Equal Rights Amendment was First Proposed 90 Years Ago
The Equal Rights Amendment — proposing an amendment to the US Constitution that guarantees equal rights under the law for Americans regardless of their sex — was first introduced in Congress in 1923. Almost 50 years later, Congresswoman Martha Griffiths (D-MI) filed a discharge petition on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1970 to send it directly to the House floor for a vote. (A discharge petition requires the signatures of a majority of House members to succeed. Learn more. And full disclosure: It’s one of the POPVOX team’s favorite legislative maneuvers and was even the star of Legally Blonde 2!)
Congresswoman Griffiths was able to get the necessary 218 signatures on her discharge petition (see the signatures) in 1970, and the ERA was passed by the House that same day. In the Senate, however, opponents added an amendment to the ERA exempting women from the military draft, which Griffiths battled against. She introduced the ERA again in the next Congress, and it was passed by the House in 1971 and by the Senate in 1972. Congress also proposed state ratification by three-fourths of the states (38) within seven years, which was extended to 10 years. By 1982, the Amendment had the approval of 35 states — three short to change the Constitution.
The ERA Discussion Continues Today
This week, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), along with 109 original co-sponsors, introduced a joint resolution to remove the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. “Only three more state legislatures need to join the 35 others that have already approved the ERA and I’m confident that will happen in the coming years but a deadline is simply not necessary -– it will be a setback to equality,” she explained.
With nearly half of states today including some version of the ERA written into their state constitution, proponents of the Constitutional Amendment are supporting it to “provide the courts with clearer guidance” regarding discrimination on the basis of sex, according to Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), who proposed a bipartisan resolution in the Senate to remove the deadline.
If either of these resolutions pass, then the ERA would become law if three additional states ratified it. (The states that haven’t ratified it are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia.)
ERA Resolutions Pending Before Congress
Weigh in on the Equal Rights Amendment — and whether the deadline for ratification should be removed. POPVOX will deliver your message to your lawmakers.
- HJRes 113 A joint resolution eliminating the original 10-year deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. –Just Introduced!–
- SJRes 15 A joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment. (In the Senate.)
- SJRes 10 The Equal Rights Amendment: Proposing an amendment to the US Constitution relative to equal rights for men and women. (In the Senate.)
- HJRes 56 The Equal Rights Amendment: Proposing an amendment to the US Constitution relative to equal rights for men and women. (In the House.)
- HJRes 43 A joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment. (In the House.)
Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn’t imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we’re simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.
