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In the United States, it’s estimated that around 10% of marriages are between first cousins. While that number may seem small, it actually equates to around 1.5 million people. And when you factor in all of the important people in politics who are related by marriage, the number gets even higher.
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Introduction
In the United States, marrying your cousin is legal in 25 states and every year about 200,000 Americans tie the knot with someone who is related to them. According to the Genetics Policy Initiative, six percent of marriages in the US are between first cousins.
While cousin marriages are legal in most states, there are still a number of stigma attached to them. In some cases, marrying your cousin can lead to genetic defects in offspring. Additionally, many people view cousin marriages as incestuous and taboo.
Despite the negative connotations, there are actually a number of important people in politics who have married their cousins. In fact, first cousins have married throughout history in order to keep land and power within families. In some cultures, cousin marriage is encouraged while in others it is seen as taboo.
Here are a few notable examples of politicians who have married their cousins:
-Former President Jimmy Carter married his first cousin, Rosalynn Smith, in 1946.
-Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin married her first cousin, Todd Palin, in 1988.
-Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson married his first cousin, LaurieRaye Drescher, in 1986.
The United States of America
The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of fifty states, a federal district (Washington, D.C.), five territories, and various possessions. The president of the United States (the head of state and head of government) is Elected by the people through the Electoral College for a four-year term and can be reelected any number of times. There are two main political parties in the United States: The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. There are also a number of smaller parties, such as the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, and the Constitution Party.
The American cousins most likely to marry each other are third cousins or closer. Studies have shown that couples who are third cousins or closer have a higher chance of producing offspring with genetic disorders than couples who are not related. In the United States, first cousins can legally marry in 25 states and Washington, D.C., but it is discouraged due to the increased risk of genetic disorders in their children.
Important People in Politics
There are a few important people in politics who have married their cousins. In the United States, this practice is not as common as it is in other parts of the world, but it does happen. Here are some examples of politicians who have married their cousins.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney married his first cousin, Lynne Cheney. They have been married for over 40 years and have two daughters together.
Senator Mark Begich from Alaska married his second cousin, Deborah Bonito. The couple has three children together.
Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen from New Jersey married his third cousin, Virginia Hoeschler. They have four children together.
While it is not as common as it once was, marrying your cousins is still practiced in some parts of the world today.
Marrying Cousins
In the United States, it is estimated that 25 percent of all politicians marry their cousins. That may seem like a lot, but it’s actually not that common when you consider the overall population. In the general population, it is estimated that only 2 percent of people marry their cousins.
So why do so many politicians marry their cousins? There are a few possible explanations. First, cousins often come from similar backgrounds and have similar values. This can make them more compatible than people who are not related.
Second, marrying a cousin can help to solidify political alliances. If two politicians are related, they may be more likely to work together on issues that they care about.
Third, marrying a cousin can help to keep important families in power. If two powerful families are related, they may be more likely to support each other’s political ambitions. This can help to create a dynastic political system where power is passed down from generation to generation.
Of course, there are also some downsides to marrying a cousin. First, it can lead to inbreeding which can result in genetic defects in offspring. Second, it can create conflicts of interest when politicians have to make decisions that could affect their family members.
Overall, though, it seems like marrying cousins is relatively common among politicians in the United States. This may be due to the fact that it can have some advantages from a political perspective.
Conclusion
So, to conclude, it’s difficult to say definitively how many important people in politics in the USA marry cousins. However, it’s possible that the number is quite high, and it may even be higher than we realize.
