This web page from Cornell University Law School contains information, in chart form, about the marriage laws of the fifty states. The chart gives information about the state to state differences when getting married.

This article, written for the Public Law Research Institute, summarizes the changes made in laws by the states to strengthen the institution of marriage.

In 18 BC, the Emperor Augustus turned his attention to social problems at Rome, one of which was adultery among the upper classes and that many couples who did marry failed to produce offspring because their romantic lives took...

A lesson plan addressing what happens when Congress passes a law or an act, but the law is unconstitutional.

This article provides a detailed history of common law, as well as information on its principles, the differences between common law and civil law, and modern-day common law.

An alphabetical list of Roman laws from the earliest times of the Twelve Tables in 451 BC to the end of the Roman Empire. The names for the laws are given in Latin.

This resource provides the definition and conditions of common law marriage and notes which states recognize this type of relationship.

Proposition 8(Prop 8), a ban to overturn gay marriage in California, passed; thus outlawing the legality of gay marriages in that state. Pros & cons of this new law, statistical information, and links to additional sites are included...

This page provides information on the prenuptial agreement as it is used in the Jewish faith. Many of the restrictions have their basis in Jewish law.

This legal article from New York Law Journal uses court cases to discuss the validity of these documents. The case law cited is from New York State. (Date of article: Dec. 22, 1998)

This page summarizes California law on non-marital partners, citing cases beginning in 1932.

This is the court's decision in the Zablocki v Redhail case (1978), concerning the right to marry.

At this website, check out an introduction to family law and several relevant online resources for further reading and research. Topics include: "Law and the American Family," "Marriage," "Legal Rights of Single People Who Live...

This New Advent article reviews the various aspects of the sacrament of Marriage from the point of view of the canon law of the Catholic Church. Please note that "The Catholic Encyclopedia" is a historic reference source and should be...

Encyclopedia entry on the marriage of a Catholic to a person from another religious tradition. This article was written from a Catholic point of view. Please note that "The Catholic Encyclopedia" is a historic reference source and should...

This web page, which is provided for by the Cornell University Law School, explains the process of getting married and its origin.

This site provides a summary of the goals of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, and how it relates to such issues as marriage and sexual behavior. From the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit organization focused on sexual and...

This database provides a wealth of information on women's rights. Topics include civil rights, feminism, marriage, politics, violence against women, and social reform.

This site contains links to in-depth information on kinship fundamentals such as marriage customs and residence rules. It also provides definitions and links to differing systems of descent and marriage among several groups - the...

The California Supreme Court held that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples violated the California Constitution; state voters then passed a ballot initiative, Proposition 8, amending the state constitution to define marriage as a...

This site provides you with the nature of Islamic law and all of the major aspects of it. Excellent reference for basic Islamic terms.

This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that struck down state bans on interracial marriage. Learners learn about the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, and its use in court cases to challenge a range of...

From 1869 until 1985 (116 years), if an Indian woman married a non-Indian man, she and the children of the marriage were denied Indian status. In 1985, the Indian Act was amended by the passage of Bill C-31 to remove discrimination...

This resource explains the rights and responsibilities of immigrants who become U.S. citizens and residents of the state of Maine. Topics include voting, taxes, legal documentation, marriage rights, and driving regulations.