What Were The Provisions Of The Defence Of Marriage Act Passed During President Clinton’s Presidency?

The Defence of Marriage Act was passed in the year 1996 and gave states the ability to refuse and not necessarily recognize same sex marriages that may have been approved in any other state. Similarly it allowed the Federal Government to not necessarily recognize polygamous or same sex marriages that have been recognized in any state. The legislation was passed when certain states felt that they might have to recognize these marriages that were going to be allowed soon in some other states.

President Bill signed the bill into law on the 21st of September 1996 and it passed easily through both houses, leading with 85 to 14 votes in Congress and 342 to 67 votes at the Senate. The law was criticized by its opponents on several grounds. They believed it was in several ways inconsistent with the Equal Protection Clause, the Full Faith and Credit clause and finally the due process clause.

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