Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs In one of his final acts as president, Joe Biden declared the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratified, potentially enshrining gender equality into the U.S. Constitution as its 28th Amendment.”It is long past time to recognize the will of the American people,” Biden said. “In keeping with my oath and duty to the Constitution and country, I affirm what I believe and what three-fourths of the states have ratified: the 28th Amendment is the law of the land, guaranteeing all Americans equal rights and protections under the law regardless of their sex.”What is the Equal Rights Amendment?First introduced by women’s rights activist Alice Paul in 1923, the ERA is a succinct declaration of equality: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”The amendment gained significant momentum in the 1970s but fell short of achieving the necessary state ratifications by the initial deadline set by Congress. Proponents argue that the deadline, which appears only in the preamble and not in the amendment’s text, is non-binding.Supporters assert that the ERA is vital to codify gender equality in the Constitution, offering stronger legal grounds to combat discrimination. Opponents, however, express concerns about potential unintended consequences, such as its implications for issues like abortion rights and military drafts. They also contend that the original congressional deadline invalidates recent state ratifications.Equal Rights Amendment: Full TextThe ERA reads: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” It grants Congress the authority to enforce the amendment through appropriate legislation and stipulates its effectiveness two years after ratification.Does Biden’s Declaration Have Any Legal Effect?Biden’s statement is unlikely to have any legal impact since presidents play no formal role in the constitutional amendment process.The leader of the National Archives has previously stated that the amendment cannot be certified because it was not ratified before the congressional deadline. Despite this, Democrats have urged Biden to act unilaterally before leaving office next week. Some members of Congress are also planning a rally at the National Archives to advocate for the ERA’s certification.
Protesters gather to call for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment at federal court on September 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. In one of his final acts as president, Joe Biden declared the Equal…
Protesters gather to call for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment at federal court on September 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. In one of his final acts as president, Joe Biden declared the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratified, potentially enshrining gender equality into the U.S. Constitution as its 28th Amendment.
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Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who has spearheaded Senate efforts to advance the ERA, has criticized the archivist’s analysis as flawed. She argued that Colleen Shogan, the National Archives leader, is “wrongfully inserting herself into a clear constitutional process, despite the fact that her role is purely ministerial.” Gillibrand has called on Biden to certify the ERA regardless of Shogan’s objections.How Long Has The Fight to Codify The ERA Been Ongoing?The push for the ERA began a century ago, but debates over its ratification have persisted for decades.Congress approved the ERA in 1972 and initially set a deadline of 1979 for three-fourths of state legislatures to ratify it. The deadline was later extended to 1982. However, it wasn’t until 2020—nearly 40 years later—that Virginia lawmakers voted to ratify the amendment, achieving the required 38 state ratifications.In 2023, Congress attempted to remove the deadline to clear the way for ratification, but the measure fell short of the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.How many amendments are in the Constitution?The U.S. Constitution currently recognizes 27 amendments. If legally validated, the ERA would become the 28th Amendment.Amendments often face significant political and legal hurdles. For the ERA, legal ambiguities surrounding deadlines and state rescissions are expected to lead to court battles to determine its status.The most recent amendment to the Constitution, the 27th Amendment, was adopted on May 7, 1992.
