Q: Why is the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment (FMPA) necessary? Doesn't Florida's     Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) already define and protect marriage in Florida? A: Florida's DOMA laws do currently define and protect marriage but we do not want to wait until there is a fire before we install sprinklers. It is wisest to be pro-active and establish marriage as a matter of constitutional law before activist judges seek to strike DOMA down. Currently there are seven different law suit in state and federal court seeking to challenge DOMA as unconstitutional. It is wiser to define marriage constitutionally and protect it in advance of activist judges who wish to illegitimately strike it down. Q: How many signatures will need to be collected in order for this amendment to go on the ballot? A: Our goal will be to collect over one million petitions by February 1, 2006. Q: How many votes does the amendment need in order for it to pass?  A: If the amendment receives greater than 51% then is will pass and become a permanent part of the Florida Constitution.  Q: Why not seek to pass a marriage amendment through the Florida Legislature? A: We would prefer to see marriage established by the people and not by politicians. Seventeen other states have laws defining marriage between one man and one woman. This is an issue that the citizens of Florida are motivated about and wish to pass themselves. Q: Is the definition of marriage an appropriate topic for a constitution?  A: Yes, absolutely. The constitution is a place to enshrine fundamental rights, basic liberties and the limitations of government. In some respects the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment does all of these things. Granted, the founders of our country would have readily held these truths regarding marriage to be "self evident". However today marriage is under attack by a small minority of people and judges who are usurping their role and authority by making new policy from the bench instead of interpreting the law.