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SJRES 48 115th Congress Senate Families Child care and development Constitution and constitutional amendments Elementary and secondary education Family relationships International law and treaties

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.

Introduced: August 1, 2017 Introduced by: Graham, Lindsey Republican · South Carolina See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 1, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Aug 1, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment stating that:

  • the liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is a fundamental right;
  • the parental right to direct education includes the right to choose, as an alternative to public education, private, religious, or home schools, and the right to make reasonable choices within public schools for one's child;
  • neither the United States nor any state shall infringe upon these rights without demonstrating that its governmental interest as applied to the person is of the highest order and not otherwise served;
  • the parental rights guaranteed by this amendment shall not be denied or abridged on account of disability;
  • this amendment shall not be construed to apply to a parental action or decision that would end life; and
  • 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.
What's happening now August 1, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HJRES 121 Related bill Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Aug 1, 2017
 R
Risch, James E.
Idaho · Aug 1, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S.J. Res. 48: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-SJRES-48/
MLA
"S.J. Res. 48: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-SJRES-48/.
Bluebook (legal)
S.J. Res. 48, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-SJRES-48/.
Markdown link
[S.J. Res. 48: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-SJRES-48/)
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