Defense of Marriage Act

Definition

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was a federal law enacted in 1996 that defined marriage as the union between one man and one woman for federal and inter-state purposes. This act significantly impacted personal autonomy and intimate relationships by denying same-sex couples federal recognition, thus affecting their legal rights regarding marriage, benefits, and family matters.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. DOMA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996, as a response to growing advocacy for same-sex marriage.
2. The act allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, creating a patchwork of marriage laws across the country.
3. Key provisions of DOMA included denying federal benefits such as tax breaks and health care to same-sex couples legally married in states that recognized their unions.
4. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a crucial part of DOMA in United States v. Windsor, ruling that denying federal recognition to same-sex marriages violated the Fifth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law.
5. The eventual full repeal of DOMA set the stage for the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015 through Obergefell v. Hodges.

Review Questions

• How did the Defense of Marriage Act impact personal autonomy for same-sex couples in the United States?
  • The Defense of Marriage Act severely limited personal autonomy for same-sex couples by preventing them from accessing federal benefits and recognition that heterosexual couples enjoyed. By defining marriage strictly as a union between one man and one woman, DOMA not only denied these couples legal rights but also reinforced societal stigma against non-heteronormative relationships. As a result, many same-sex couples faced barriers in areas such as taxation, inheritance, and healthcare, significantly affecting their personal autonomy.
• Discuss the implications of DOMA on state-level marriage laws and how it created disparities across the United States.
  • DOMA had profound implications for state-level marriage laws by allowing individual states to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages conducted in other jurisdictions. This led to significant disparities across the United States where some states legalized same-sex marriage while others explicitly prohibited it. The resulting confusion created an environment where couples could legally marry in one state but face challenges when moving or traveling to states that did not recognize their marriage, highlighting the tension between federal and state powers.
• Evaluate how the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Windsor challenged the constitutionality of DOMA and what it meant for future LGBTQ+ rights.
  • The Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Windsor was pivotal in challenging the constitutionality of DOMA by declaring that its denial of federal recognition to same-sex marriages violated the Fifth Amendment's equal protection clause. This ruling marked a significant victory for LGBTQ+ rights, as it acknowledged the fundamental equality of same-sex couples under federal law. The Windsor decision laid the groundwork for subsequent legal battles that ultimately led to the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges, reflecting a broader societal shift towards acceptance and legal recognition of LGBTQ+ relationships.

Related terms

Same-Sex Marriage: The legal union between two individuals of the same sex, which became a significant issue in the United States leading to various court rulings and legislative changes.

Federalism:

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, often complicating issues like marriage laws across different states.

Obergefell v. Hodges:

The landmark Supreme Court case in 2015 that ruled state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional, effectively overturning DOMA's impact on marriage recognition.