NC S85

Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex.

Directs the Governor to send certified copies of the ratification to the U.S. Administrator of General Services and to Congress.

Argues that the seven-year ratification deadline in the Congressional resolving clause is not binding because it is not part of the amendment itself, citing the precedent of the 27th Amendment (ratified 203 years after proposal) and Coleman v. Miller (1939).

Notes that 35 states have already ratified the ERA and contends that three-fourths state ratification (38 states) would make it valid, with Congress having authority under Coleman v. Miller to determine validity of late ratifications.

Effective upon becoming law.