2002—Pub. L. 107–207, §2(b), Aug. 5, 2002, 116 Stat. 926, added item 8.
1996—Pub. L. 104–199, §3(b), Sept. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2420, added item 7.
1 So in original. Does not conform to section catchline.
In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, unless the context indicates otherwise—
words importing the singular include and apply to several persons, parties, or things;
words importing the plural include the singular;
words importing the masculine gender include the feminine as well;
words used in the present tense include the future as well as the present;
the words "insane" and "insane person" shall include every idiot, insane person, and person non compos mentis;
the words "person" and "whoever" include corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, societies, and joint stock companies, as well as individuals;
"officer" includes any person authorized by law to perform the duties of the office;
"signature" or "subscription" includes a mark when the person making the same intended it as such;
"oath" includes affirmation, and "sworn" includes affirmed;
"writing" includes printing and typewriting and reproductions of visual symbols by photographing, multigraphing, mimeographing, manifolding, or otherwise.
(July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633; June 25, 1948, ch. 645, §6, 62 Stat. 859; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 655, §1, 65 Stat. 710; Pub. L. 112–231, §2(a), Dec. 28, 2012, 126 Stat. 1619.)
2012—Pub. L. 112–231, in fifth clause after opening clause, struck out "and 'lunatic' " before "shall include every" and "lunatic," before "insane person,".
1951—Act Oct. 31, 1951, substituted, in fourth clause after opening clause, "used" for "use".
1948—Act June 25, 1948, included "tense", "whoever", "signature", "subscription", "writing" and a broader definition of "person".
Pub. L. 112–231, §1, Dec. 28, 2012, 126 Stat. 1619, provided that: "This Act [amending this section and sections 92a, 215, and 215a of Title 12, Banks and Banking] may be cited as the '21st Century Language Act of 2012'."
Pub. L. 107–207, §1, Aug. 5, 2002, 116 Stat. 926, provided that: "This Act [enacting section 8 of this title] may be cited as the 'Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002'."
Pub. L. 104–199, §1, Sept. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2419, provided that: "This Act [enacting section 7 of this title and section 1738C of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the 'Defense of Marriage Act'."
Pub. L. 114–113, §3, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2244, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, §1004, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1322, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in this division [see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of this division."
Pub. L. 113–235, §3, Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2132, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 113–76, §3, Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 7, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 113–67, div. A, §1(c), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1166, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 113–6, §3, Mar. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 199, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in division A, B, C, D, or E of this Act [Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 112–74, §3, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 787, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 112–55, §3, Nov. 18, 2011, 125 Stat. 552, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 112–10, div. A, title IX, §9015, Apr. 15, 2011, 125 Stat. 102, provided that: "Any reference to 'this Act' in this division [Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2011, see Tables for classification] shall apply solely to this division."
Pub. L. 111–118, §3, Dec. 19, 2009, 123 Stat. 3409, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 111–117, §3, Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3035, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 111–8, §3, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 525, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 111–5, §4, Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 116, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 110–329, §3, Sept. 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 3574, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' or 'this joint resolution' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 110–161, §3, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 1845, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 110–116, §2, Nov. 13, 2007, 121 Stat. 1295, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referencing only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 109–289, div. A, title VIII, §8112, Sept. 29, 2006, 120 Stat. 1299, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in this division [Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007, see Tables for classification] shall be referring only to the provisions of this division."
Pub. L. 109–148, div. B, title V, §5002, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2813, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in either division A [Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006, see Tables for classification] or division B [Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 109–115, div. A, title VIII, §847, Nov. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2507, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in this division [Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of this division."
Pub. L. 108–447, §3, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2810, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 108–199, §3, Jan. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 4, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this Act [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 108–7, §3, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 12, provided that: "Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to 'this Act' contained in any division of this joint resolution [Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, see Tables for classification] shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division."
Pub. L. 86–70, §48, June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 154, provided that: "Whenever the phrase 'continental United States' is used in any law of the United States enacted after the date of enactment of this Act [June 25, 1959], it shall mean the 49 States on the North American Continent and the District of Columbia, unless otherwise expressly provided."
The word "county" includes a parish, or any other equivalent subdivision of a State or Territory of the United States.
(July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633.)
The word "vessel" includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.
(July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633.)
The word "vehicle" includes every description of carriage or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on land.
(July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633.)
The word "company" or "association", when used in reference to a corporation, shall be deemed to embrace the words "successors and assigns of such company or association", in like manner as if these last-named words, or words of similar import, were expressed.
(July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 633.)
Wherever, in the statutes of the United States or in the rulings, regulations, or interpretations of various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States there appears or may appear the term "products of American fisheries" said term shall not include fresh or frozen fish fillets, fresh or frozen fish steaks, or fresh or frozen slices of fish substantially free of bone (including any of the foregoing divided into sections), produced in a foreign country or its territorial waters, in whole or in part with the use of the labor of persons who are not residents of the United States.
(July 30, 1947, ch. 388, 61 Stat. 634.)
In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word "marriage" means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word "spouse" refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.
(Added Pub. L. 104–199, §3(a), Sept. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2419.)
For information regarding constitutionality of this section, as added by section 3(a) of Pub. L. 104–199, see Congressional Research Service, The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, Appendix 1, Acts of Congress Held Unconstitutional in Whole or in Part by the Supreme Court of the United States.
(a) In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the words "person", "human being", "child", and "individual", shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development.
(b) As used in this section, the term "born alive", with respect to a member of the species homo sapiens, means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother of that member, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut, and regardless of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean section, or induced abortion.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affirm, deny, expand, or contract any legal status or legal right applicable to any member of the species homo sapiens at any point prior to being "born alive" as defined in this section.
(Added Pub. L. 107–207, §2(a), Aug. 5, 2002, 116 Stat. 926.)