
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 1USC1]

 
                       TITLE 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
                    CHAPTER 1--RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
 
Sec. 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, Sec. 6, 
62 Stat. 859; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 655, Sec. 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, Sec. 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.
