{
  "id": "RL31201",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL31201",
  "active": true,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
  "versions": [
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      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 412095,
      "date": "2012-09-13",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-06T21:41:49.659658",
      "title": "Family Law: Congress\u2019s Authority to Legislate on Domestic Relations Questions",
      "summary": "Under the United States Constitution, Congress has little direct authority to legislate in the field of domestic relations. The primary authority and responsibility to legislate in the domestic relations arena lies with the individual states. The rationale behind this approach is the lack of overriding national considerations in the family law area. However, states\u2019 freedom to legislate has led to substantial variation between the individual states on many topics including incidents of marriage, divorce and child welfare. As such, Congress continues to utilize a number of indirect approaches to enact numerous federal laws which impact on family law questions. This report discusses the extent to which Congress is constitutionally authorized to legislate on family law questions, and includes examples of present laws utilizing the various approaches available in this area.",
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc505369/",
      "id": "RL31201_2009Feb02",
      "date": "2009-02-02",
      "retrieved": "2015-05-29T05:37:21",
      "title": "Family Law: Congress's Authority to Legislate on Domestic Relations Questions",
      "summary": "This report discusses the extent to which Congress is constitutionally authorized to legislate on family law questions, and includes examples of present laws utilizing the various approaches available in this area.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Domestic relations",
          "name": "Domestic relations"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Families",
          "name": "Families"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Domestic partners",
          "name": "Domestic partners"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Abandonment of family",
          "name": "Abandonment of family"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc820399/",
      "id": "RL31201_2007Oct25",
      "date": "2007-10-25",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Family Law: Congress\u2019 Authority to Legislate on Domestic Relations Questions",
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      "type": "CRS Report",
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      "topics": []
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc807074/",
      "id": "RL31201_2005Jun17",
      "date": "2005-06-17",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Family Law: Congress\u2019 Authority to Legislate on Domestic Relations Questions",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
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      "topics": []
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  ],
  "topics": [
    "Constitutional Questions"
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}