Resolutions

A resolution is:  a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group (e.g. city council, political party).
  • Get your city, county, organization to pass a Resolution supporting the ERA and calling on the House and Senate to pass a bill for an act proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. 
  • During Caucuses - submit a resolution asking your party to support an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) on the party platform.

City/County Resolution Example

Take Action!  Contact your city council or city council member and ask that they pass a resolution supporting the ERA.  Get it on their agenda!   See Sample #1.  If they need help convincing -- see Sample #2.  (downloadable templates are below) 

​Send us a scanned copy (or a photo) of your signed resolution once it has passed so we can post it to Our Allies page!
Sample #1
​Resolution in Support of an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
  • Whereas, the City of x supports equal rights for the citizens of x; and women constitute over 50 percent of the citizenry; and
  • Whereas, women play a critical role in families, the workplace, and in society as a whole, contributing to our economy and advancing our nation; and
  • Whereas, women continue to confront a lack of political parity, workplace discrimination, health care inequities, disparate rates of poverty, sexual assault and domestic violence; and
  • Whereas, the Minnesota Constitution does not explicitly guarantee that all rights that it protects are held equally by all citizens without regard to gender; and
  • Whereas, the Equal Rights Amendment is required in order to provide gender-based equality in our courts and laws because the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the 14th Amendment does not apply specifically to issues of gender; and
  • Whereas, although laws prohibiting gender discrimination exist, they can be repealed or reduced by a simple majority in the legislature; and
  • Whereas, an Equal Rights Amendment would help correct systemic gender discrimination; and
  • Whereas, Minnesota requested that Congress propose an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in April of 1949 and then ratified the federal ERA in February of 1973 – yet still does not have sex or gender equality guaranteed in its own state constitution; and
  • Whereas, bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate stating that “equality under the law must not be abridged or denied on account of gender”.
  • Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the City of x calls on the Minnesota Senate and House to pass a bill for an act proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, known as the Equal Rights Amendment, providing for gender equality under the law.
City Resolution in Support of ERA.docx
File Size: 507 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Sample #2 - with background and assessment
Advisory Communication
Action Requested: To pass a resolution of support for Minnesota bills HF 13 and SF 200:  inclusion of a referendum on the state ballot in 2020 to add an Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota constitution.

Situation: Half of all states in the United States have some form of Equal Rights Amendments in their constitutions.  Minnesota does not.  Although Minnesota state laws provide for equal protections for all under the law, those laws can easily be overturned by subsequent legislation.  The only way to provide permanent protection and to advance equality is through a state constitutional amendment.

Background: The City of XX has made a strong commitment to human rights and to equality and equity.
  • The City is part of the worldwide network of Human Rights Cities, a program that uses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as guiding and aspirational principles for city policies and actions.
  • The City has passed a resolution of support for CEDAW, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, which is known as the “Declaration of Human Rights for Women.”
  • The League of Women Voters XX supports the ERA referendum to appear on the 2020 ballot and supports this resolution.
 
Assessment: It is appropriate for the City to endorse an Equal Rights Amendment that will institutionalize equal protections under the law into the Minnesota state constitution.  It is also appropriate that the City endorses the process of holding a referendum by which this action will be decided by Minnesota’s voters.

​Recommendation:  The City should pass the following resolution of support:
  • Whereas the City of XX supports equal rights for all who live, study, work, and visit in XX; and
  • Whereas the Minnesota Constitution does not explicitly guarantee that all rights that it protects are held equally by all without regard to gender; and
  • Whereas laws prohibiting gender discrimination that exist today can be repealed or reduced by a simple majority in the legislature; and
  • Whereas, an Equal Rights Amendment would help correct systemic gender discrimination that is widespread and pervasive; and
  • Whereas Minnesota requested that Congress propose an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in April of 1949 and then ratified the federal ERA in February of 1973 and still does not have gender equality guaranteed in its own state constitution; and
  • Whereas bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate in 2019 stating that “equality under the law must not be abridged or denied on account of gender,”
  • Therefore, Be It Resolved that the City of XX, Minnesota supports a bill in the Minnesota House and Senate proposing a 2020 referendum for an Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, providing for gender equality under the law, and supports the passage of said referendum.
2019 City Council ERA Advisory Communication.docx
File Size: 19 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
These are a .docx files -- easily changed for your city.  Just substitute your city's name for X.

Caucus Resolutions

Please attend your precinct caucus (Tuesday, February 25) and present this resolution.  Learn more about caucuses (where your's is and how they work) on the MN Secretary of State website.

Resolutions - How it Works (simplified):  You go to your local precinct caucus on Feb 25 .  You will divide up into your neighborhood groups, the person in charge will call for any resolutions.  You will get up and read your resolution.  There may be discussion.  Then people will do a show of hands vote.  It will be recorded if it passes or not.  If it passes in enough precincts it will then go to the District Conventions. Proposed resolutions will be put on a ballot and voted on by the delegates.  If 60% vote yes it becomes part of the party platform or a formal set of principle goals which are supported by the Party.  (FYI: You will also be voting on who you would like to be the party candidate for any races being held.  Presidential Primary will be held one week later.)

What you need to do:  Print this resolution (Democrat or Republican) and bring it with you to your precinct caucus on Tuesday, Feb 25 at 7:00 pm. (Find out where HERE).  When they call for resolutions -- present this to your group.

DFL Resolution

Resolution for introduction of an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) for MN and lifting the deadline of the U.S. ERA at DFL precinct caucuses 

Please print this resolution form, complete the information on the top, including your name, city and contact information and propose it at your precinct caucus. 

Please feel free to print multiple copies and/or send it out via email to friends and neighbors to introduce at their precinct caucuses. It is important that this resolution be passed in multiple precincts, in multiple Senate Districts and Organizing Units across the state.

Thank you for helping achieve final passage of the federal Equal Rights Amendment and making adding an Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution a priority in the current legislative session.

The language reads: the Minnesota DFL will demonstrate its support for banning discrimination on the basis of gender by aggressively advocating for removal of the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and for passage of legislation to put an Equal Rights Amendment in the Minnesota State Constitution.​

Print your copy by clicking on the image or the download file.  You can also download a blank copy for your own resolution.
Picture
Click on the image to download and print your copy of the ERA Resolution.
ERA DFL Resolution Form
File Size: 208 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Blank DFL Resolution Form
File Size: 189 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Republican Resolution

Resolution for introduction  to lift the deadline at GOP precinct caucuses.  (FYI:  A bill to lift the deadline authored by Republicans is being presented in the Senate this session.  2020  The more demand by citizens the better!)

ERA Minnesota is a nonpartisan organization focused on lifting the sunset on ERA ratification to achieve final passage of the federal ERA and advocating for passage of legislation to put an Equal Rights Amendment into the Minnesota State Constitution.

Thank you for helping achieve final passage of the federal Equal Rights Amendment and making adding an Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution a priority in the current legislative session.

The language reads: 
WHEREAS, Congress violated the rights of citizens under the 9th Amendment to vote on the Equal Rights Amendment; and
WHEREAS, the Equal Rights Amendment is required in order to provide gender-based equality in our courts and laws because Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the 14th Amendment does not apply specifically to issues of gender;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Republican Party of Minnesota support the removal of the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution. 

Print your copy by clicking on the image or the download file.  
Picture
Click on the image to download and print your copy of the resolution to present at your caucus.
Republican ERA Resolution
File Size: 42 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File