Carter extended the damn thing three extra years. It had a ten year ratification period.
Carter extended the damn thing three extra years. It had a ten year ratification period.
The problem is the seven-year time limit is a part of the text of the ERA. When it failed to pass in seven years, Congress chose to amend the Amendment itself to make the limit 10 years. I have no idea if this change passed Congress by 2/3rds majority in both houses (and I’m too lazy to look it up). In any case the Amendment didn’t pass even with the 3-year extension.
If it is ok to ignore the actual text of the amendment that some people wish wasn’t there, but in fact is there, then the precedent has been set to ignore other parts of the amendment as well.