Legal Definitions - Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require the Federal and state governments to ensure equal rights amongst sexes.

For example, if the Equal Rights Amendment were to be passed, it would mean that men and women would have equal rights in areas such as employment, education, and healthcare.

The Amendment has been proposed more than once, but Congress passed the Amendment in 1972. However, only 35 states ratified the Amendment by the 1982 deadline, 3 votes short of the required three-fourths majority.

Since the deadline, the Equal Rights Amendment has received more action in Congress with the most recent being in 2021. In order for the Equal Rights Amendment to be passed, Congress must either extend the deadline and gain three more votes, or start the process over of getting the amendment passed by Congress and 38 states.