MS HC16

Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits denial or abridgement of equality of rights under law on account of sex.

Amendment contains three sections: Section 1 establishes equality rights regardless of sex; Section 2 grants Congress enforcement power; Section 3 provides a two-year implementation period after ratification.

Argues that the seven-year ratification deadline in Congress's resolving clause is not part of the amendment itself and can be disregarded, citing the 1978 time extension precedent and the Supreme Court's Coleman v. Miller decision regarding Congress's authority to judge ratification validity.

Asserts that ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures (36 states already ratified) should be sufficient for the amendment to become valid, with Congress determining the validity of post-deadline ratifications.

Requires copies of the resolution to be sent to the U.S. Archivist, congressional leadership, and Mississippi's congressional delegation.