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TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND SUBMIT TO THE STATES FOR RATIFICATION AN AMENDMENT TO RECOGNIZE MARRIAGE AS THE UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.
Whereas, the union of man and woman in marriage has been recognized as the foundation of society since time immemorial; and
Whereas, the founders of our country decreed marriage between a man and a woman to be "the highest and most blessed of relationships"; and
Whereas, marriage between one man and one woman affords undeniable benefits to society at large by providing the optimal setting for raising children; and
Whereas, at least forty-five states have enacted laws to define marriage as being between one man and one woman, and the federal government enacted the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996; and
Whereas, twenty-seven states have adopted amendments to their constitutions to protect the definition of marriage as being only between a man and a woman; and
Whereas, marriage is a solemn ceremony of special significance and importance to the people of the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, the people of the State of South Carolina view with growing concern attempts to change the definition of marriage through judicial action and thus exclude popular participation in this matter; and
Whereas, the Constitution of the United States provides the citizens of the states the opportunity to ratify through their state legislatures or through conventions amendments proposed by the Congress; and
Whereas, the people of South Carolina look to their representatives in Congress to fulfill their Constitutional role and to provide their constituents the opportunity to amend the Constitution to represent their views in those matters they deem most important. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, memorialize the United States Congress to amend the Constitution of the United States, pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States, and submit to the states for ratification an amendment to recognize marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.
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