Reading Room Document

Legality of an Executive Branch Boycott of States which have not Ratified the ERA

This document addresses the legality of an Executive Branch boycott of states that have not ratified the ERA. It mentions recent litigation regarding the Department of Energy's alleged policy not to schedule agency events in non-ratifying states, but clarifies that both the President and the Department of Energy have disavowed any such policy. The conclusion reached is that, due to the lack of an actual Executive policy on the subject, the merits of the inquiry cannot be addressed. The document presents questions concerning the legality of the boycott and the recent litigation, but ultimately does not provide a definitive answer due to the absence of an actual policy to scrutinize.

May 1, 1980