The sociological concept I have chosen in the institution of marriage. Marriage is a legally sanctioned relationship, usually involving economic cooperation as well as normative sexual activity and childbearing that people expect to be enduring. The first characteristic of marriage is that it is a legally sanctioned relationship. In other words, marriage is a formal relationship that is recognized and bound by law. In western societies, marriages are begun with weddings as a means to publicly announce the legal union of the couple. Marriages are performed by religious representatives (member of the clergy) or by marriage commissioners licensed by the province to perform marri