Final answer:
Marriage in North America is typically monogamous and legally includes both opposite-sex and same-sex unions following the 2015 US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. Same-sex marriage is now recognized across the United States, granting couples equal civil, social, and economic benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
In North America, particularly in the United States, the legal form of marriage is primarily monogamous, meaning a union between two spouses. While traditionally this was limited to unions between a man and a woman, significant legal changes have occurred. In a landmark decision in June 2015, in Obergefell v. Hodges, the US Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in the United States, thus ensuring that marriage can legally exist between two consenting adults regardless of their sex or gender.
Before this ruling, the defense of traditional marriage was upheld by The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage as only between one man and one woman and allowed states to refuse recognizing same-sex marriages from other states. This act, however, was undercut by several court decisions which paved the way for same-sex marriage legalization. Following these decisions, same-sex marriage is now legally recognized in the entirety of the United States, and same-sex couples are entitled to the same civil, social, and economic benefits as opposite-sex couples.
It's important to note that while these changes reflect a significant societal shift, debates concerning the definition of marriage still persist, with differing viewpoints from religious and social conservatives and social liberals and progressives. Nonetheless, the current legal status across North America supports equal marriage rights for all consenting adults, adhering to the principles of equality and non-discrimination.