§1. Words denoting number, gender, and so forth

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" and "lunatic" shall include every idiot, lunatic, 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 .)

Amendments

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".

Short Title of 1996 Amendment

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'."

Continental United States

Section 48 of Pub. L. 86–70, 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."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in title 7 section 241; title 10 section 101; title 16 section 2402; title 20 section 5607b; title 28 section 3701; title 30 sections 1511, 1531; title 31 section 5312; title 32 section 101; title 37 section 101; title 39 section 5215; title 49 sections 5102, 10102, 13102, 40102, 60101.