Same Sex Marriage, Indian Tribes, and the Constitution

34 Pages Posted: 27 Jul 2006 Last revised: 25 Jan 2016

Date Written: 2006

Abstract

This Article explores the impact of a same-sex marriage amendment on the place of Indian tribes in the federal constitution. A same-sex marriage amendment, depending on the text, might serve to incorporate Indian tribes into the federal union as the third sovereign. The Constitution has not been amended to incorporate Indian tribes into the federal union, rendering their place in Our Federalism uncertain and unpredictable. A same-sex marriage amendment that applies to limit or expand tribal authority to recognize or authorize same-sex marriage could constitute an implicit recognition of Indian tribes as the third sovereign in the American system of federalism. Even an amendment that excludes mention of Indian tribes may have something to say about Indian tribes as the third sovereign.

Keywords: Indian tribe, constitutional law, same sex marriage, federalism, civil rights

Suggested Citation

Fletcher, Matthew L. M., Same Sex Marriage, Indian Tribes, and the Constitution (2006). 61 University of Miami Law Review 53 (2006), MSU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 04-03, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=909344

Matthew L. M. Fletcher (Contact Author)

University of Michigan Law School ( email )

500 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://michigan.law.umich.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/our-faculty/matthew-lm-fletcher

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