When asked to name what means the most to them, many people say, "My family." The U.S. government defines a family as a group of two or more people who live together. These people are related by birth, marriage, or adoption. Why are families so important? Families provide a function, or purpose, to their members. These functions are also the responsibilities of family life. As you learn more about families, you will learn more about the functions of families. You will gain new insights into what it means to be a family. There are also many different kinds of families. Learning about these families may help you see the value in the similarities and differences between families. - p. 7.