SJR39 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Wendell Mitchell

Democrat

Co-Sponsor

Scott Beason

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

U. S. Congress, requested to convene a constitutional convention to propose Marriage Protection Amendment

Summary

Alabama asks the U.S. Congress to call a constitutional convention to propose a Marriage Protection Amendment defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would apply to the U.S. Congress to convene a constitutional convention under Article V to propose the Marriage Protection Amendment. The application is intended to continue until at least two-thirds of state legislatures have made similar applications. It also asserts that the convention would be limited to proposing only this amendment and could not propose other amendments or alter the text. The resolution would be sent to federal and state officials as part of the process.

Who It Affects

• Same-sex couples and LGBTQ individuals, who could be affected by a potential federal amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.
• Alabama residents and state government, since the resolution uses Alabama's process to push for a federal constitutional change and outlines state-level views on how Article V should be interpreted.

Key Provisions

• Requests the U.S. Congress to call a convention to propose the Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
• Defines the proposed amendment to state that marriage shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman, and that neither the federal nor state constitutions shall require marriage or its legal incidents for any union other than a man-woman union.
• Establishes a continuing application until at least two-thirds of state legislatures have made similar applications.
• States that the convention would have power only to propose the specified amendment and would be limited to that proposal, with no authority to propose other amendments or change its text.
• Requires transmitting a copy of the resolution to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, Alabama's delegation, and each state legislature.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Resolutions, Legislative