The Marriage Vow or "The Marriage Vow - A Declaration of Dependence Upon Marriage and Family" is a political pledge created by Bob Vander Plaats, a former candidate for Iowa governor, and the Iowa-based conservative group; The Family Leader, a public advocacy organization affiliated with the Iowa Family Policy Center, that he heads. Signing the pledge, created in early July, was a requirement to receive any support from the organization. Signing the pledge entailed supporting a monogamous heterosexual definition of marriage, as well as backing a ban on pornography, abortion, and Sharia Law. Notable signees include Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum, while the pledge drew notable criticism from libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. Contents The vow begins with a series of preambles, each designed to show the "great crisis" in the institution of marriage. Later, the first preamble, one that claimed that children of slaves were more likely to live in 2 parent households than children are today, was redacted due to the criticism it received. The following are the vows the candidates pledged to by signing. Personal fidelity to their spouse Respect for the marital bonds of others Fidelity to the US constitution Support for "faithful constitutionalists" as judges Opposition to any redefinition of marriage that falls outside of heterosexual monogamous relationships "Recognition of the overwhelming statistical evidence that married people enjoy better health, better sex, longer lives, greater financial stability, and that children raised by a mother and a father together experience better learning, less addiction, less legal trouble, and less extramarital pregnancy" Reform of anti marriage portions of welfare policy Extended "cooling off" periods for those seeking a divorce Legal advocacy for the Defense of Marriage Act Support for a federal marriage amendment to the US constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman Opposition to human trafficking, sexual slavery, prostitution, Prevention of seduction into promiscuity Opposition to pornography. Although Plaats later clarified that the pledge just intended to prevent women from being coerced into pornography. Opposition to abortion and infanticide Supporting safeguards to prevent sexual abuse in the military Opposition to women serving in active combat roles in the military Rejection of Sharia Islam Rejection of all forms of anti-women totalitarian control Recognition that childbearing is beneficial to "U.S. demographic, economic, strategic and actuarial health and security." Commitment to downsizing the government Defense of religious liberty and freedom of speech. Response Criticism Claims of racism