<P> Marriage licenses in the United States fall under the jurisdiction of the state in which the ceremony is performed; however, the marriage is generally recognized across the country . The state in which they are married holds the record of that marriage . Traditionally, working with law enforcement was the only means of searching and accessing marriage license information across state lines . </P> <P> Some groups and individuals believe that the requirement to obtain a marriage license is unnecessary or immoral . The Libertarian Party, for instance, believes that marriage should be a matter of personal liberty, not requiring permission from the state . Individuals who align with this libertarian stance argue that marriage is a right, and that by allowing the state to exercise control over marriage, it falsely presupposes that we merely have the privilege, not the right, to marry . As an example of a right (as opposed to a privilege), those that are born in the US receive a birth certificate (certifying that they have been born), not a birth license (which would give them license so they could be born). Some Christian groups also argue that a marriage is a contract between a man and a woman presided over by God, so no authorization from the state is required . Some US states have started citing the state specifically as a party in the marriage contract which is seen by some as an infringement . </P> <P> Marriage licenses have also been the subject of controversy for affected minority groups . California's Proposition 8 has been the subject of heavy criticism by advocates of same - sex marriage, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community whose ability to marry is often limited by the aforementioned state intervention . This changed on June 26, 2015, with the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges . However, the state and federal intervention still continues to limit the ability of members of other minority religious groups from marrying according to the dictates of their religious tenets, as is the case with Islamic polygamy, for example . Polyamorous and polyandrous marriages are, likewise, still prohibited . </P> <P> In October 2009, Keith Bardwell, a Louisiana justice of the peace, refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple, prompting civil liberties groups, such as the NAACP and ACLU, to call for his resignation or firing . Bardwell resigned his office on November 3 . </P>

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