ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota's attorney general argues that Secretary of State Mark Ritchie was acting within his power when he revised the title that will appear above a constitutional amendment defining marriage.

The brief was submitted Monday by Attorney General Lori Swanson's office on behalf of fellow Democrat Ritchie. It says he was following a law that "plainly empowers the secretary to provide titles for all proposed constitutional ballot questions."

Supporters of defining marriage as between only a man and a woman are suing over Ritchie's move to replace an original title with his own. It now reads: "Limiting the Status of Marriage to Opposite Sex Couples."

The brief filed with the Supreme Court says the title for the November ballot question is accurate for an amendment fortifying an existing gay marriage ban.

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