Ever Wonder What Happened to the ERA?

The ERA has never been ratified by the 38 states needed to make it a part of the US Constitution. My son and I were talking about it so I decided to do some research. Here is what I found.

ERA History

"In 1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John, 'In the new code of laws, remember the ladies and do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.' "

1848 - first Woman's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY

1923 - ERA text: "Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction."

1943 - ERA text: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

1972 - "The Equal Rights Amendment passed the U.S. Senate and then the House of Representatives, and on March 22, 1972, the proposed 27th Amendment to the Constitution was sent to the states for ratification. It was ratified by 34 (now 35) of the 38 states needed to make it part of the constitution." Thanks to Phyllis Schlafly and the Religious Right, a campaign to kill the ERA was successful, playing on fears of women in combat and homosexual marriages.

1982 - "The Equal Rights Amendment was reintroduced in Congress on July 14, 1982 and has been before every session of Congress since that time. In the 110th Congress (2007-2008), it was introduced as S.J.Res. 10 (lead sponsor: Sen. Edward Kennedy, MA) and H.J.Res. 40 (lead sponsor: Rep. Carolyn Maloney, NY). These bills imposed no deadline on the ERA ratification process. Success in putting the ERA into the Constitution via this process requires passage by a two-thirds in each house of Congress and ratification by 38 states."

CURRENT TEXT OF ERA:    

    •    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.
    •    Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
    •    Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Thanks to Roberta W. Francis, Chair, ERA Task Force, National Council of Women's Organizations for much of the information (and photo) I have listed here. (equalrightsamendment.org/history.htm)