Urges the U.S. Senate to enact legislation eliminating deadline for ratification of Equal Rights Amendment.
Impact
The successful modification of the ratification deadline for the ERA could have significant implications for state and federal laws regarding gender equality. By enshrining gender equality as a substantive principle within the U.S. Constitution, state laws would be required to align with this constitutional mandate, potentially leading to enhanced protections against gender discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment, education, and healthcare. This could also affect existing state laws that may not fully comply with the constitutional guarantee of equal rights.
Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 48 urges the United States Senate to enact legislation that would eliminate the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA was proposed to guarantee equal rights for women, stating that equality of rights under the law should not be denied on account of sex. Despite passing Congress in 1972, the amendment has not been fully ratified by the necessary number of states before the set deadlines. This resolution aims to revive the effort to make the ERA a part of the Constitution by urging Congress to remove these deadlines retroactively.
Contention
The resolution highlights the ongoing discourse surrounding the ERA’s ratification and the urgent need for such measures to protect advances in women's rights. While proponents argue that eliminating the deadline is necessary to reaffirm the United States' commitment to gender equality, detractors may see this as an unnecessary change that complicates legal standards. The ERA has become a polarizing issue, as some legislators believe its ratification is a critical step toward achieving equality, while opponents fear potential unintended consequences on laws that concern family life and traditional gender roles.
Clarifying that the 1972 ratification by the 62nd Texas Legislature, 2nd Called Session, of the proposed 1972 Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was only valid through March 22, 1979.