DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT

Defense  of Marriage Act.A  federal statute that (1) provides that  no state can be required to

recognize  or  give  effect to  same-sex  marriages, (2)  defines the  term  “marriage”  for  purposes of

federal law as the union of a man and a woman as husband and wife, and (3) defines “spouse” for

purposes  of  federal  law  as  being  only  a  person  of  the  opposite  sex.  28  USCA  §  1738C.  •  The

Defense of Marriage Act was enacted in response to the fear that if one state sanctioned same-sex

marriages, other states might then have to give  full faith and credit to those  marriages. — Abbr.

DOMA. [Blacks Law 8th]