
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 1USC7]

 
                       TITLE 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
                    CHAPTER 1--RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
 
Sec. 7. Definition of ``marriage'' and ``spouse''

    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, Sec. 3(a), Sept. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2419.)
