Discharge Petition for the Equal Rights Amendment, 1970

A discharge petition allows the majority of the House to bypass committee action and bring a measure directly to the floor. Representative Martha Griffiths of Michigan spearheaded the passage of this petition for a women’s Equal Rights Amendment.

Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Second Image: Michigan's Martha Griffiths--a champion of women's rights--was the first female to serve on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which deals with revenue issues.

U.S. News and World Report Collection, Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress