President Biden on ERA: A Step Forward, but What's Next?

On Friday, President Biden made a significant announcement regarding the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). He stated that he believes the ERA has achieved ratification and is now a part of the Constitution. This amendment, often referred to as the 28th Amendment, ensures equal rights and legal protections for all Americans, regardless of their sex.However, it's important to understand that the president's declaration does not immediately make the ERA a law. The Constitution doesn't give the president the power to approve amendments single-handedly. The actual certification process is handled by the archivist of the United States. Currently, the archivist has not formally published the ERA because they believe certain requirements for passage have not been met. So, what does this all mean? Well, while Biden's statement carries moral weight, it doesn't have immediate legal force. The real work of finalizing the ERA still lies ahead, and it involves more than just presidential support. It's a reminder that changing laws often requires more steps than just one person's declaration.