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S.J.Res. 38: A joint resolution establishing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

119th Congress · introduced 2025-03-25 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

A joint resolution establishing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Plain summary

This joint resolution provides that the Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, was ratified by three-fourths of the states and is therefore a valid constitutional amendment, regardless of any time limit that was in the original proposal. The Equal Rights Amendment was originally proposed to the states in 1972. The original proposal included a deadline for ratification of March 22, 1979; Congress subsequently extended the deadline to June 30, 1982. Although the requisite 38 states have ratified the amendment, three of these states did so after the deadlines, and five states subsequently rescinded their ratifications. The status of the amendment has been the subject of litigation.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

A joint resolution establishing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] · 3 cosponsors

Money: No cost estimate published yet. No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Constitutional amendment
A change to a constitution. In Texas the Legislature proposes an amendment with a joint resolution passed by two-thirds of the members of each chamber. It takes effect only if a majority of the people voting on it approve it. In Florida, an amendment needs at least 60% of the votes cast on it to pass.
Joint resolution
In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-sjres38 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills