This is an annotated version of an article originally published in a special issue of The American Prospect on “”The Politics of the American Family,”” April 8, 2002. Ooms describes the current debate about the role of federal and state governments in promoting marriage. She suggests that liberals and conservatives might find consensus on a “”marriage-plus”” agenda, which would put the well-being of children first by helping more of them grow up in married, healthy, two-parent families. (Author abstract modified)