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For the Equal Rights Amendment (excerpt 1)
Shirley Chisholm
I What would the legal effects of the equal rights amendment really be?
2 The equal rights amendment would govern only the relationship
between the State and its citizens - not relationships between private
citizens. The amendment would be largely self-executing, that is, and
Federal or State laws in conflict would be ineffective one year after date
of ratification without further action by the Congress or State legislatures.
3 Opponents of the amendment claim its ratification would throw the law
into a state of confusion and would result in much litigation to establish its
meaning. This objection overlooks the influence of legislative history in
determining intent and the recent activities of many groups preparing for
legislative changes in this direction.
4 State labor laws applying only to women, such as those limiting hours of
work and weights to be lifted would become inoperative unless the
legislature amended them to apply to men. As of early 1970, most States
would have some laws that would be affected. However, changes are
being made so rapidly as a result of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, it is likely that by the time the Equal Rights Amendment would
become effective no conflicting State laws would remain
Clea
Q Search
x It can most reasonably be inferred from the passage that the Equi
Rights Amendment
4×
A
B
C
D
was still being considered for passage at the time th
speech was made.
gathered more support in the Federal government
than in State governments.
led to a considerable surge of women in the work
force in the early 1970s.
was particularly popular with Americans who
supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964.