Amending Constitution requires 3/4 of states to approve amendment

[DebJ]

Even if 2/3 of the House and 2/3 of the Senate were to vote for a ban gay marriage amendment to the Constitution, this will never get through 3/4 of the states: 38 states would have to approve any amendments. Here it is, straight from the Constitution itself:

"Article V
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to the Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode Of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress;"

[BR_Parkway]

1. 39 of states have passed DOMA's, don't be sure this would get stopped

at the states level. It needs to die in committee on the Hill.

[Silverhair]

3. The Reps control ALL the committees.

Don't look for this to die in committee. I expect an early vote on it. It is to their political advantage to have every Democrat on record as to how they voted on gay marriage.

Also, if they can get it out to the states early in the year then they can get many of the state legislatures to put it to a vote, thereby putting many Democratic state legislatures on the spot.

[Racenut20]

2. Pretty dam* good diversion don't you think????

Who needs tax ripoffs, deficiets, the Iraq war, AWOL, JOBS...etc etc...

Lets spend the summer talking about whether my nephew and the guy he has lived with for years should be allowed to get married or not.

Seems like the important thing to me.

If you the reader are gay, I don't mean to offend you. I am not, but I don't know why, or why you are. But it certainly isn't something I worry or care much about. What the hey do I care what you do?? I just know I personally would much rather smooch with Brittany Spears than Congressman Franks.

My family line goes straight back to Cromwell. Doesn't mean I have to go forth with his views. Some of these people we have around really give Religion a bad name.

Or do I have to subscribe to that ever smaller portion of my family who insists on being racist.

WAKEUP Folks. G. Bush and the WingNuts that put him there are wreaking havoc with everything you DO stand for and your familys have been working for for generations.

Thats all. Fell off my soap box. Time to go turn the wheels of commerce for another day.

[Gildor Inglorion]

4. 99 Days

If I remember correctly, that's the length of time it took for the amendment giving the vote to 18-year-olds to pass both houses of congress and 3/4 of the state legislatures. This one may break that record. Never underestimate the power of hate and fear.