At any time during the legislative process the bill may be amended, either in committee or on the Floor. After the amendments have been submitted to the author, the bill goes to another printing to reflect the changes that have been made. The Senate or Assembly History records the dates when a bill has been amended.

In the House, most bills go to the Rules committee before reaching the floor. The committee adopts rules that will govern the procedures under which the bill will be considered by the House. A “closed rule” sets strict time limits on debate and forbids the introduction of amendments.

A bill is subject to amendment as soon as the Senate begins to consider it. Committee amendments are considered first; then Senators can offer amendments to any part of the bill, generally, in any order. Third-degree amendments are not allowed.

Amendments may be proposed either by the Congress, through a joint resolution passed by a two-thirds vote, or by a convention called by Congress in response to applications from two-thirds of the state legislatures.

After proposal, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Organizations like the National Organization of Women (NOW) began a hard push for the ERA in 1970. Phyllis Schlafly was perhaps the most visible opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Under the Constitution, constitutional amendments are valid once ratified by three-fourths of the states — or 38 states. Congress in 1972 passed the Equal Rights Amendment that stated “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 ERA Coalition is comprised of some 200 national and local partner and supporter organizations across the country representing millions of advocates working for the equality of all. We strategize with states seeking ratification.