The Family Research Council explains that ‘submission’ means when a husband and wife disagree, the husband wins because that’s how God wants it.

Peter Sprigg, a senior fellow for policy studies at the conservative Family Research Council, said he believed that concerns over a tension between Bachmann’s adherence to an ancient biblical code and her duties should she become president were misplaced.

He said that her interpretation of St. Paul rested solely with matters related to family and marriage, “not if she was elected president of the United States.”

An ordained Baptist minister, Sprigg said most evangelical Christians don’t believe that a husband is a “dictator,” but that both he and his wife should discuss issues thoroughly and try to reach consensus.

“The idea of a wife submitting to her husband is kind of a tiebreak,” he said. “Only those circumstances where they’re unable to reach a consensus is it necessary for the wife to exercise this. It’s maybe about as common as the vice president having to break a tie in the U.S. Senate.”