Skip to main content
HJRES 56 108th Congress House Families Constitutional amendments Government Operations and Politics Law Marriage Same-sex marriage State constitutions State laws Unmarried couples

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage.

Introduced: May 21, 2003 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 13, 2004
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 25, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
May 21, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 21, 2003
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Prohibits the Constitution or any State constitution, or State or Federal law from being construed to require that marital status or its legal incidents be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.
What's happening now May 13, 2004

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • SJRES 26 Identical bill A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage.
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 15
All 15 Democratic 1 Republican 14
D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Sep 29, 2004
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Jul 7, 2004
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Feb 24, 2004
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Feb 10, 2004
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Oct 8, 2003
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · Oct 7, 2003
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Sep 10, 2003
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Sep 9, 2003
 R
Turner, Michael R.
Ohio · Sep 9, 2003
 R
Carter, John R.
Texas · Jul 24, 2003
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Jul 24, 2003
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Jul 23, 2003
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Jul 15, 2003
 R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · Jul 8, 2003
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Jun 2, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 56: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage.. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-56/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 56: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage.." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-56/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 56, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-56/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 56: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage.](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HJRES-56/)
Report a problem