Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution intended to guarantee equal rights regardless of sex. It was first introduced in Congress in 1923 and passed by both houses in 1972. To be adopted, the amendment required ratification by three-fourths of the states (38). By the 1982 deadline set by Congress, only 35 states had ratified it. Since then, additional states have voted to ratify the ERA, and Congress has considered measures to remove or extend the original deadline. In 2021, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to remove the ratification deadline, but the measure did not advance in the Senate. At this time, the ERA is not ratified. 

[Last reviewed in July of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team] 

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