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HJRES 40 105th Congress House Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Abortion Congress Congressional powers Constitutional amendments Due process of law Government Operations and Politics Law State laws

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to the right to life.

Introduced: February 4, 1997 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 5, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Feb 4, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 4, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the word "person," as used in this Amendment and in the fifth and 14th amendments to the Constitution, applies to all human beings regardless of age, health, function, or condition of dependency. Prohibits depriving any unborn person of life. Declares that this Amendment does not prohibit a law permitting only those medical procedures required to prevent the death of the mother.

What's happening now March 5, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Mar 4, 1997
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Feb 4, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 40: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to the right to life.. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-40/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 40: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to the right to life.." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-40/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 40, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-40/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 40: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to the right to life.](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-40/)
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