Blog Post 2.3

1. What changed about Virginia's government in last week's elections?
Democrats took control of both state's legislative bodies.

2. What would the Equal Rights Amendment proposed in 1972 do?
It would grant equal rights regardless of sex.

3. How many states ratified the amendment when it was originally proposed?  What states have ratified it recently?
35 did it rapidly while Nevada and Illinois ratified it recently.

4. According to the constitution, why is it necessary to have a 38th state ratify the amendment?
3/4 of the states need to ratify an amendment before it becomes law, which translates to 38 states.

5. What stipulation for its ratification did Congress add to the proposal in the 1970s?
They made it so that it would take effect two years after ratification and have 7 years for a deadline.

6. How did the Virginia legislature vote on ratification of the ERA last year?  
They rejected it.

7. How can Congress change the ratification deadline from 1982 to now?
They could just vote to change the previous deadline.

8. How does the 27th Amendment provide an example that this amendment could be ratified now?
The Madison Amendment was stalled for 190 years.