The Heritage Foundation: The Nature of Marriage

Family and Marriage

The family is the building block of society. When marriages and families are healthy, communities thrive; when marriages break down, communities break down.

A Portrait of Family and Religion in America - Study illustrating the intact family that worships weekly is the greatest generator of human and social goods and least generator of social ills, and that the broken family that does not worship is the greatest generator of social ills and the least generator of social goods.

Marriage is a fundamental institution, deeply rooted in all societies, which has been tested and reaffirmed over thousands of years. It is the permanent union of one man and one woman. Marriage is not, in the words of a Massachusetts court, an "evolving paradigm," but instead a time-tested pillar of civilization. Modern social science research confirms its importance for the welfare of all family members, but especially children.

Main Issue
Family

The Positive Effects of Marriage: A Book of Charts by Patrick Fagan, Robert E. Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D., and America Peterson
For children whose parents remain married, the benefits are real. Too many programs continue to undermine marriage among the poor and must be reevaluated.

Civil Unions: Compromise or Surrender? by Midge Decter
What is being called "civil marriage" is a kind of trick of language, a term used as a political euphemism for surrendering to the most recent demand of the homosexual rights movement.

In Defense of Marriage by Matthew Spalding, Ph.D. and Joseph Loconte
WebMemo #373
Marriage is a fundamental social institution, deeply rooted in all societies, which has been tested and reaffirmed over thousands of years.

More Than a "Lifestyle Choice" by Jennifer Marshall
Commentary June 22, 2004
They’ve finally set a date. Senate leaders have announced that members will vote the week of July 12 whether to amend the Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

July 12, 2004
Marriage Amendment Protects Federalism
By Edwin Meese, III
(WebMemo #531)
The fundamental definition of marriage is no mere policy issue

July 12, 2004
Will DOMA Protect Marriage?
By Matthew Spalding, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #532)
Assuming the Supreme Court follows its own precedents and jurisprudence, the Defense of Marriage Act will fall.

July 9, 2004
Social Science and Same-Sex Marriage: Translations from the Netherland's Reformatorisch Dagblad
By The Heritage Foundation
(WebMemo )
Severeal leading Dutch researchers comment on the consequences of same-sex marriage in the Netherlands.

May 17, 2004
Marriage: What Social Science Says and Doesn't Say
By Jennifer Marshall
(WebMemo #503)
Social science data indicate that the intact family best ensures the current and future welfare of children and society when compared with other common forms ...

May 17, 2004
A Defining Moment: Marriage, the Courts, and the Constitution
By Matthew Spalding, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1759)
The most responsible step Congress can take to preserve marriage is to send a constitutional amendment that protects the institution of marriage to the states ...

October 20, 2003
The Necessity of Marriage
By The Honorable Rick Santorum
(Heritage Lecture #804)
Marriage is under assault, with high rates of divorce and out-of-wedlock births pummeling the traditional family. Given the high stakes for society, it is important ...

earlier research

Heritage Foundation Leadership for America

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