Skip to main content
HJRES 42 111th Congress House

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.

Introduced: March 31, 2009 See on congress.gov
Families Constitution and constitutional amendmentsElementary and secondary educationFamily relationshipsInternational law and treaties
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) 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
Apr 27, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Mar 31, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 31, 2009
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.

 Latest action April 27, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - States that the liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right.

States that neither the United States nor any state shall infringe upon this right without demonstrating that its governmental interest as applied to the person is of the highest order and not otherwise served.

Provides that no treaty may be adopted nor shall any source of international law be employed to supersede, modify, interpret, or apply to the rights guaranteed by this amendment.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 42: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HJRES-42/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 42: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HJRES-42/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 42, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HJRES-42/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 42: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HJRES-42/)
Report a problem