Georgia Congressman Paul Broun announced Tuesday that he will be introducing a constitutional amendment to prevent same-sex marriage in response to a recent decision by the California Supreme Court that recognizes same-sex marriages.

The recent 4-3 decision by the California Supreme Court redefines marriage to include legal unions. Some conservative legal scholars view the recent decision as activist in which the policy preferences of four justices overturned the democratically expressed will of California’s voters.

“Marriage as an institution exists solely between one man and one woman. Americans have traditionally recognized this definition as being the most beneficial arrangement for the creation of stable family structures and for the upbringing of children. In fact, Americans have repeatedly shown their preference for the traditional definition of one-man, one-woman marriage by passing state and federal laws or by amending state constitutions to preserve the traditional definition," Broun said.

“There simply is no basis for the suggestion that homosexual ‘marriage’ is a right protected by the United States Constitution," Broun said.

In 2004, President Bush announced his support for such an amendment, after judges in various parts of the country ordered marriage licenses to be available to same-sex couples, despite the Defense of Marriage Act having previously been signed by President Bill Clinton in the 1990's.

The proposed amendment has an uphill battle, though, as both the U.S. House and Senate must approve by a two-thirds vote. If that were to happen, then three-fourths of state legislatures would have to approve the amendment before it becomes law.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle the amendment faces is Democrats. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean was pleased with the decision of the California Supreme Court.

"The Supreme Court of California today took a step forward in the long march toward protecting equal rights under the law for every American. This should not be a matter of politics or partisanship; it is a matter of protecting the rights and dignity of all American families," Dean said on May 15.

Democrats hold the majority in both the House and Senate.

Congressman Broun serves Georgia's 10th congressional district, which includes part of the Augusta area.