§ 1. — Words denoting number, gender, etc.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 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 2002 Amendment
Pub. L. 107-207, Sec. 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'.''
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 42
section 14902; title 49 sections 5102, 10102, 13102, 40102, 60101.
