The Senate will take up ratification of the International Genocide Convention for the first time tomorrow but faces the possibility of a strong filibuster by conservative Republicans and Democrats led by Sen. Sam Ervin (D. N.C.). Opponents of the measure which was adopted by the United Nations 25 years ago, are seeking to prevent a vote on ratification or to muster more than one-third of the Senate against it. Ratification requires the approval of two-thirds of the Senators present and voting.
Since its adoption by the UN, the Genocide Convention has been endorsed by every U.S. Administration but was pigeon-holed by the Senate for years. It was put on the Senate calendar for tomorrow by Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D. Mont.) in consultation with Sen. William Proxmire (D. Wisc.) a leading proponent of ratification for the past seven years.
Ervin is expected to challenge the Convention on constitutional grounds, arguing that it is poorly drafted, strikes at states’ rights and is beyond the competence of the federal government to carry out. Another opposition argument is that the Convention would create an international tribunal with jurisdiction over individual American citizens. Proxmire asserts, however, that the fears expressed by opponents of the Genocide Convention all have been proven groundless by other American legal authorities.
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