Text of WV HJR 14 (2011)

Defense of Marriage Amendment

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As introduced

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skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Introduced Version « House Joint Resolution 14 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14 (By Delegates Hamilton, Ireland, Romine, Andes, Rowan, Sobonya and Duke) [Introduced January 12, 2011; referred to the Committee on Constitutional Revision then theJudiciary.] Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of WestVirginia, amending article III thereof, by adding thereto anew section, designated section twenty-three, relating todefining what constitutes a valid and recognized marriage inthis state; numbering and designating such proposed amendment;and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of suchproposed amendment. Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds ofthe members elected to each house agreeing thereto: That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendmentto the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted tothe voters of the state at the next general election to be held inthe year 2012 and, which proposed amendment is that article IIIthereof be amended by adding thereto a new section, designatedsection twenty-three thereof, to read as follows: ARTICLE III. BILL OF RIGHTS. §23. Definition of marriage. Marriage, to be valid and recognized in the State of WestVirginia, shall consist only of the legal union between one man andone woman. Neither this Constitution, nor any other provision oflaw shall be construed to require that marital status, or the legalincidents thereof, be conferred upon any other domestic union thatintends to approximate the design, qualities, significance oreffect of marriage. Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions ofarticle eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931,as amended, such proposed amendment is hereby numbered “Amendment1" and designated as the “Defense of Marriage Amendment” and thepurpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: “Toamend the Constitution of the State of West Virginia to clearly andunequivocally define that the only valid and recognized marriage inthe State of West Virginia shall be the legal union between one manand one woman.” NOTE: The purpose of this resolution is to amend the StateConstitution to clearly define what the laws of this staterecognize as a valid marriage: Only the legal union between oneman and one woman. This section is new; therefore, it has been completelyunderscored. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: