31.   The Christian Legal Society, a national association of evangelical lawyers that would ordinarily applaud such an amendment, withheld its support on Thursday..

32.   The group has lobbied for the past five and a half years to persuade states to pass resolutions calling on Congress to enact such an amendment.

33.   The opponents counter that such an amendment would make it harder to respond to emergencies like recessions and military threats and would jeopardize Social Security benefits.

34.   The Republicans say they are willing to pay that price for such an amendment.

35.   The very day such an amendment is ratified by the necessary two-thirds majority of states, we can be guaranteed flags will burn across the land.

36.   The wisdom of such an amendment should be debated based on what Congress learns.

37.   To be approved, such an amendment would require a two-thirds vote of each house and acceptance by three-fourths of the states.

38.   To be approved, such an amendment would require a two-thirds vote of each house as well as acceptance by three-fourths of the states.

39.   When the House Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to approve such an amendment, the three-fifths requirement for tax increases was part of it.

40.   Dingwall said he did not see the need for such an amendment.