Marriage Law Society Marriage, Law Essay

2. Should marriage be a path to citizenship for an American citizen's alien spouse, children, siblings, or parents? Discuss the pros and cons of prioritizing family reunification in our immigration policies.

Marriage should certainly be a path towards American citizenship. People should be free to determine their spouse and this choice should not be restricted to any geographic area. It is often the case that love knows no boundaries. Individuals should therefore not be limited by geographic restrictions when choosing a partner. Because of this it would be a crime to separate spouse based on immigration policies. Furthermore, children who certainly need their parents should also be included in similar categories in the eyes of immigration policy. However, the less immediate question is more difficult. There would have to be a line drawn somewhere and siblings might not be a close enough relationship to justify a path to citizenship and this point could be heavily debated.

3. Should the terms of marriage be drawn up by each set of spouses (as with most private contracts), or should there be one standard package of rights and duties that is publicly negotiated and set by law? Explain and justify your answer.This is certainly a question that requires a subjective answer but I personally believe that individuals should be free to determine their own familial and social arrangements without some central authority dictating them to the whole of society. The American culture was built upon diversity and equality under the law which should not be restricted to people who have different ideals and beliefs than what can be found in mainstream culture. If the majority is allowed to set the standard for these relationships then there is the possibility for what is known as the tyranny of the majority. In such a case the opinion of the majority can act to impose oppressive policies on those who do not share their views. Therefore I believe that everyone should be able to associate freely and define the terms of their relationships as they see fit. If they choose an arranged marriage or a traditional marriage then this should be a choice that they have and consistent with….....