Marriage amendment clears the Indiana House of Representatives
February 16, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: The legal definition of marriage has been a hot point of controversy in the nation the last few years and may be headed to the Indiana statewide ballot. On Tuesday, February 15, the House voted 70-26 in approval of the proposed measure.[1]
The legislatively referred constitutional amendment would define marriage as between one man and one woman.[2] HJR 6 also notes that the "legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized."[3] According to reports, the state already has a law that bans gay marriage, however a constitutional amendment passed by voters would protect that law in state courts.[4]
In order to send a constitutional amendment to the ballot, a majority vote is required (in two successive sessions of) the Indiana General Assembly. Indiana is one of 12 states where proposed amendments are considered in two successive sessions of the state's legislature. The proposed measure may appear on either the 2013 or 2014 statewide ballot.[5]
See also
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Footnotes
- ↑ The Republic, "Republican-controlled Indiana House approves constitutional amendment banning gay marriage," February 15, 2011
- ↑ One News Now, "Indiana marriage bill may get stalled again," February 11, 2010
- ↑ Indiana Legislature, "HJR 6 text," accessed February 14, 2011
- ↑ Washington Blade, "Ind. House panel approves marriage amendment," February 7, 2011
- ↑ Indiana Statesman, "State lawmakers propose constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages," February 9, 2011
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