VIRGO Act

Vital Innovation in Relational Growth and Opportunity Act
Vital Innovation in Relational Growth and Opportunity Act
United States Federal Statute
Long Title	An Act Entitled the Vital Innovation in Relational Growth and Opportunity Act
Acronym	VIRGO
Enacted by	126th United States Congress
Effective	1 October 2039
Signed	15 August 2039; by President Pete Buttigieg
Co-Sponsors	Rep. Diane Cavanis (R-FL); Rep. Olivia Ambrose (D-NJ)
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The Vital Innovation in Relational Growth and Opportunity Act, more commonly known by its acronym VIRGO, is a landmark United States federal statute legalizing and regulating polygamous marriage. It was passed by the 126th Congress and signed into law by President Pete Buttigieg on 15 August 2039, marking the first comprehensive federal framework for legally recognized plural marriages in United States history.

The Act is widely regarded as one of the most consequential social-law reforms of the post–Second Great Depression era and a major legislative victory for fifth wave feminism.

"Yesterday, Congress didn't invent a new social order - we acknowledged one, regulated it, and made it safer, fairer and more honest. This law is about consent, responsibility and economic dignity in an era where pretending otherwise has failed everyone."

16 August 2039

Background

Social and economic context

The VIRGO Act emerged during the aftermath of the Second Great Depression (2029–2039), a decade characterized by:

structural unemployment exceeding 25% at its peak
prolonged wage stagnation
severe housing shortages and record rents
normalization of elite wealth concentration

By the late 2030s, informal polygamous arrangements among wealthy men were already common but legally unprotected, creating uncertainty for women and children involved in such households.

At the same time, fifth wave feminist thinkers argued that traditional monogamous marriage law no longer reflected economic reality, and that legal reform was necessary to protect women’s interests in a hyper-unequal society.

Legislative history

The VIRGO Act was introduced in early 2039 by Rep. Olivia Ambrose (D-NJ) and Rep. Diane Cavanis (R-PA) in a rare bipartisan collaboration.

The bill passed:

the House of Representatives with an overwhelming bipartisan majority
the Senate by a vote of 76–24

President Buttigieg signed the Act into law on the same day it passed Congress.

Key provisions

Marriage eligibility

Second marriage
- A man with a demonstrable net worth of at least $20 million may enter a second simultaneous marriage with full legal recognition.
Third and fourth marriages
- A man with a net worth of at least $40 million may legally recognize up to four simultaneous marriages.

Financial safeguards

Within 7 days of a second marriage, the husband must deposit a $350,000 surety bond per wife (up to $700,000 initially) with the Office of Maintenance and Child Support (OMCS).
Each additional marriage requires an additional $350,000 bond, up to a maximum of $1.4 million.
These funds are held in trust and may be used by OMCS for:
- maintenance
- alimony
- child support

Divorce and asset division

Single-wife marriage: wife entitled to up to 40% of the marital estate.
Multiple-wife marriage: wives collectively entitled to up to 60%, divided equally unless a court determines otherwise.
Valid prenuptial agreements remain enforceable.

Tax treatment

A husband may claim a tax rebate of up to $50,000 for each wife beyond the first, capped at $150,000.

Gender restrictions

Women are not permitted to have more than one husband under the Act.

Administration and enforcement

The Act is administered by the Department of Families and Households (DFH) through the Office of Maintenance and Child Support. Courts retain discretion over enforcement, asset division, and use of surety bonds.

States are prohibited from criminalizing polygamous marriages that comply with VIRGO, but retain authority over related family-law procedures.

Political and cultural impact

Support

Supporters argued that VIRGO:

formalized existing elite behavior rather than creating new practices
protected women economically
reduced legal ambiguity around inheritance and custody
aligned U.S. law with global trends already present in Arabia, China, and parts of Europe

The Act received strong backing from:

fifth wave feminist organizations
elite business circles
progressive cultural figures

Opposition

Opponents contended that VIRGO:

undermined traditional marriage
disadvantaged working-class men
entrenched elite privilege

Notable critics included:

Rep. Chuck Finley (R-TN), who cited religious and cultural objections
Rep. Jake Willis (R-TX), who framed the Act as “modern eugenics” and a threat to American men

Despite vocal opposition, repeal efforts never gained traction.

Long-term significance

By the early 2040s, VIRGO had reshaped:

family law jurisprudence
elite marriage practices
feminist political discourse
cultural attitudes toward wealth, gender, and partnership

The Act is frequently cited by scholars as a defining feature of the post-depression social order, reflecting the United States’ shift toward openly stratified, capital-aware governance.