HJR192 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Richard J. Laird

Independent

Co-Sponsor

Duwayne Bridges

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Urging Congress to call convention, adopt Marriage Preservation Act.

Summary

HJR192 is Alabama's nonbinding resolution asking Congress to call a constitutional convention to propose a 'Marriage Preservation Amendment' defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

What This Bill Does

It would formally urge the U.S. Congress to initiate a constitutional convention under Article V to propose the Marriage Preservation Amendment. The amendment would define marriage as the union of one man and one woman and would not recognize other marriages with legal effects anywhere in the United States or its jurisdictions. The resolution describes this as a continuing application until two-thirds of state legislatures have joined, and it states the convention would be limited to proposing only this amendment and could not propose other changes. It does not itself change any law.

Who It Affects

• Same-sex couples and their families who could lose federal recognition of marriages if the amendment were enacted.
• Alabama residents and state government, since the resolution aligns with a state-defined view of marriage and seeks federal action that could affect nationwide marriage definitions.

Key Provisions

• Proposes to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose an amendment titled the 'Marriage Preservation Amendment.'
• Section 2 would define marriage strictly as the union of one man and one woman, with no other unions recognized or given legal incidents within the U.S. or its jurisdictions.
• The application is stated to be a continuing one until at least two-thirds of state legislatures have made similar applications.
• The convention would be limited to proposing only this amendment and would not have power to vary its text or propose other amendments.
• A duly attested copy of the resolution would be sent to the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the U.S. House, and to each member of Congress and to each state legislature.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Resolutions, Legislative