No Congress ever has seen fit to amend the Constitution to address any issue related to marriage. No Constitutional Amendment was needed to ban polygamy or bigamy, nor was a Constitutional Amendment needed to set a uniform age of majority to ban child marriages.

The quote by Judy Biggert reflects her perspective on the role of the Constitution in defining and regulating marriage in the United States. She points out that historically, Congress has not found it necessary to amend the Constitution to address issues such as polygamy, bigamy, or child marriage. Instead, these matters have traditionally been managed through state laws and local regulations, highlighting the decentralized approach to marital legislation in the U.S.

The origin of this quote comes from Biggert’s tenure as a Republican congresswoman from Illinois, during debates over family law and the definition of marriage. Her comments were likely made in the context of discussions about whether a federal Constitutional Amendment was required to define marriage as between one man and one woman, a topic that was particularly prominent in the early 2000s with the rise of the same-sex marriage debate.

By referencing historical precedents, Biggert underscores the point that the federal government has traditionally allowed states to regulate the institution of marriage. Issues like banning polygamy or setting legal ages for marriage were handled through state legislation rather than through nationwide constitutional changes. This reflects a broader principle in American law: marriage has largely been considered a matter of state jurisdiction.

Ultimately, Biggert’s quote highlights the intersection of law, tradition, and governance in matters of marriage. She emphasizes that marriage, while socially and morally significant, has historically been regulated locally, and that attempts to amend the Constitution for such matters should be viewed within that context. Her statement reflects the conservative perspective on maintaining state authority over family law.