Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Defining Marriage Update

Stop the Supreme Court from Redefining Marriage
 
On April 28 the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on same-sex marriage regarding two questions: (1) Does the 14th Amendment require states to license same-sex marriages? and (2) And does it require them to recognize those marriages performed in other states?
 
The justices' ruling is expected in late June. The ruling is expected to determine whether same-sex marriage becomes legal nationwide or whether states retain the authority to ban it.
 
On April 22 Representative Steve King (R-Iowa) introduced his bill, "Restrain the Judges on Marriage Act of 2015" (Text), that would strip federal courts and the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear cases related to marriage
 
King's bill has two main provisions:
 
(a) JURISDICTION. - No court created by an Act of Congress shall have any jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court shall have no appellate jurisdiction, to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of, or the validity under the Constitution of, any type of marriage....
(b) FUNDING. - No Federal funds may be used for any litigation in, or the enforcement of any order or judgment by, any court created by an Act of Congress, on any question pertaining to the interpretation of, or the validity under the Constitution of, any type of marriage....
 
King's bill can accomplish this because he is making use of Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, which states:
 
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the Supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make. [Emphasis added.]
 
Help preserve the traditional definition of marriage by applying Article III, Section 2 to strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear cases related to marriage.
 
Phone your representative (202-225-3121) and senators (202-224-3121) and ask them to support Rep. Steve King's "Restrain the Judges on Marriage Act of 2015."
 
Then, for additional impact, please send a prewritten, editable email to your representative and senators in support of King's bill.
 
Source:The John Birch Society, jbs.com
 
Comments
 
Defining marriage does not appear in the enumerated powers given by the States to the Federal in the U.S. Constitution (as written).  The U.S. Supreme Court is not empowered to render an opinion on this case.
 
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
 

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