Federal Marriage Amendment

Federal Marriage Amendment is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which would limit marriage in the United States to unions of one man and one woman. The amendment, also known as the FMA, has been introduced in the United States Congress multiple times but has not passed.

History

The Federal Marriage Amendment was first introduced in the United States House of Representatives in 2003 by Representative Marilyn Musgrave and in the United States Senate by Senator Wayne Allard. The proposed amendment was in response to a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in the case of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, which found that the Massachusetts Constitution required the state to allow same-sex marriages.

Text of the Amendment

The text of the Federal Marriage Amendment states: "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman."

Support and Opposition

Supporters of the Federal Marriage Amendment argue that it is necessary to prevent the redefinition of marriage by the courts. They believe that marriage is a fundamental institution that should be preserved as the union of one man and one woman.

Opponents of the amendment argue that it is discriminatory and infringes on the rights of same-sex couples. They believe that all individuals should have the right to marry the person they love, regardless of gender.

Legislative History

The Federal Marriage Amendment has been introduced in Congress multiple times, but has never passed. It came closest to passing in 2006, when it was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee but failed to receive the necessary two-thirds majority in the Senate.

Impact

While the Federal Marriage Amendment has not been ratified, the debate over the amendment has had significant impact on the discussion of same-sex marriage in the United States. It has also influenced state-level legislation, with many states passing their own amendments or laws defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

See Also

• Same-sex marriage in the United States
• Defense of Marriage Act
• United States v. Windsor
• Obergefell v. Hodges