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Biden’s ERA Declaration Sparks Legal Debate

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Biden’s ERA Declaration Sparks Legal Debate

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In a controversial move, President Joe Biden recently declared the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The ERA, first proposed in 1923 and approved by Congress in 1972, seeks to ensure gender equality but failed to gain ratification from the required 38 states by the 1982 deadline. While three additional states ratified it between 2017 and 2020, the amendment faces legal challenges due to the expired deadline and some states’ rescissions. Legal experts criticized Biden’s action as symbolic and legally baseless, asserting that the President lacks the authority to unilaterally recognize constitutional amendments. Despite this, supporters see the move as a step toward reigniting the push for gender equality. The amendment’s future now hinges on legal battles, with the National Archives withholding certification pending judicial resolution.