Introduced Version
House Joint Resolution 10 History
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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10
(By Delegates Hamilton, Ireland, Romine, Rowan
and Sobonya)
[Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the Committee on
Constitutional Revision then the Judiciary.]
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West
Virginia, amending article III thereof, by adding thereto a
new section, designated section twenty-three, relating to
defining what constitutes a valid and recognized marriage in
this state; numbering and designating such proposed amendment;
and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such
proposed amendment.
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of
the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:
That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment
to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to
the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in
the year 2014, which proposed amendment is that article III
thereof be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated
section 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 West
Virginia, shall consist only of the legal union between one man and
one woman. Neither this Constitution, nor any other provision of
law shall be construed to require that marital status, or the legal
incidents thereof, be conferred upon any other domestic union that
intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or
effect of marriage.
____Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of
article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931,
as amended, such proposed amendment is hereby numbered "Amendment
1" and designated as the "Defense of Marriage Amendment" and the
purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: "To
amend the Constitution of the State of West Virginia to clearly and
unequivocally define that the only valid and recognized marriage in
the State of West Virginia shall be the legal union between one man
and one woman."
NOTE: The purpose of this resolution is to amend the State
Constitution to clearly define what the laws of this state
recognize as a valid marriage: Only the legal union between one
man and one woman.
This section is new; therefore, it has been completely
underscored.