[JURIST] Leaders of the US House of Representatives [official website] have decided to move forward with a vote on the Marriage Protection Amendment [PDF text; H.J. Res. 88 summary], which would amend the US constitution to ban same-sex marriage, despite a failed vote on the Senate floor [JURIST report] in June. As with the Senate vote, the House vote on Tuesday is expected to fall short of the two-thirds majority needed to approve the measure. The House fell 40 votes short [JURIST report] of advancing the constitutional amendment two years ago.

President Bush urged Congress to approve the amendment [JURIST report] prior to the Senate debate, condemning "activist" judges [JURIST report] that have struck down state laws banning same-sex marriage. To become law, a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in each house of Congress followed by ratification by three-quarters of the states. AP has more.