Nonetheless, proponents are defending the decision by Republican leaders to bring the amendment to the Senate floor, dismissing complaints from opponents that the measure is a pernicious election-year ploy that has wasted precious time on the legislative calendar. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican. I think we're going to show real progress. John Thune, a South Dakota Republican.

North Carolina approves amendment banning gay marriage



Same-Sex Marriage License Laws in the U.S
In an emotional and historic contest, Minnesota voters defeated the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage on Tuesday. The result struck a blow to same-sex marriage opponents who had succeeded in passing ballot measures in 30 other states. It also opened the way for backers to push for legal same-sex marriages in Minnesota. Amendment opponents burst into tears and cheered when they heard the outcome early Wednesday morning at the campaign party for Minnesotans United for All Families, the main group that fought against the amendment. The election result doesn't change Minnesota law, which bans same-sex marriage, but it means the state constitution won't include language defining marriage as between one man and one woman.


Same-Sex Marriage License Laws
On Thursday, lawmakers in the Virginia House of Delegates took the first step in a long, complicated process of repealing a voter-approved constitutional amendment that prohibits two people of the same gender from marrying. If approved, the proposal then goes on the general election ballot where voters must approve it. The Democratic-controlled House of Delegates voted to overturn the Marshall-Newman Amendment, with seven Republicans voting for repeal along with most of the Democratic caucus. The joint resolution has yet to be voted upon by the Virginia Senate, where Democrats hold a much narrower edge over Republicans.

The draft submissions have not yet been made public but were described to journalists in a series of briefings by high-ranking members of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament. Russia is planning to amend its constitution for the first time since The move, announced by Putin in January , was initially seen as a way for him to hold on to power after , when as things stand he will no longer be able to serve as president because of term limits. After a parliamentary vote, Russia will hold a nationwide referendum in mid-April, when the conservative amendments may help boost turnout. He has taken an increasingly conservative turn in his fourth term as president, and has enjoyed support from both patriotic groups and the Russian Orthodox church.