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Simple English definitions for legal terms
polygamy
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A quick definition of polygamy:
Polygamy is when someone has more than one spouse at the same time. This means they are married to more than one person. In the United States, it is against the law to have more than one spouse. This law was made a long time ago in 1882. If someone gets married to another person while they are already married, it is called bigamy, which is also against the law.
A more thorough explanation:
Polygamy is when a person has more than one spouse at the same time. This means that they are married to multiple people at once.
In the United States, polygamy is illegal. This means that it is against the law to have more than one spouse at the same time. The Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882 made polygamy illegal in the United States.
For example, if John is married to Jane and then marries Sarah without divorcing Jane, he is committing polygamy. This is because he is married to two people at the same time.
Polygamy is often confused with bigamy, which is also illegal. Bigamy is when a person marries someone else while still being married to their current spouse.