On September 21, 1996, Congress passed P.L. 104-199 , the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Section 2 of the law states that no state, territory, or possession of the United States "shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such relationship." Section 3 of the law defines "marriage" for federal purposes as "only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife," and specifies that spouse "refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife." On November 4, 2008, California citizens passed Proposition 8, adding new Section 7.5 to Article I of the California Constitution that reads "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Numerous legal challenges have been made to these laws, including petitions of certiorari that have been granted by the United States Supreme Court in two cases. This collection of resources is intended to assist in responding to a broad range of research questions and requests for assistance related to the same-sex marriage law, and its consequent litigation before the Supreme Court. H.R. 3396 was introduced in the House of Representatives on May 7, 1996. The bill was approved by the Judiciary Committee on June 12, 1996, and the House as a whole on July 12, 1996. The legislation passed the Senate on September 10, 1996. It was signed by the President on September 21, 1996, and designated P.L. 104-199 . Below are links to selected legislative history documents from the 104 th Congress on the Defense of Marriage Act. Defense of Marriage Act , P.L. 104-199 , 110 Stat. 2419 (1996). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-104publ199/pdf/PLAW-104publ199.pdf H.R. 3396 , 104 th Congress (as introduced May 7, 1996). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-104hr3396ih/pdf/BILLS-104hr3396ih.pdfH.R. 3396 , 104 th Congress (as reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary, July 9, 1996). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-104hr3396rh/pdf/BILLS-104hr3396rh.pdfH.R. 3396 , 104 th Congress (as passed by the House, July 12, 1996). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-104hr3396eh/pdf/BILLS-104hr3396eh.pdfH.R. 3396 , 104 th Congress (as placed on the Senate Calendar, July 17, 1996). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-104hr3396pcs/pdf/BILLS-104hr3396pcs.pdfH.R. 3396 , 104 th Congress (as passed by the House and Senate). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-104hr3396enr/pdf/BILLS-104hr3396enr.pdfH.Res. 474 , 104 th Congress (as passed by the House, July 11, 1996). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-104hres474eh/pdf/BILLS-104hres474eh.pdfS. 1740 , 104 th Congress (as introduced May 8, 1996). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-104s1740is/pdf/BILLS-104s1740is.pdf Defense of Marriage Act , H.Rept. 104-664 (1996). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-104hrpt664/pdf/CRPT-104hrpt664.pdfProviding for the Consideration of H.R. 3396 , Defense of Marriage Act , H.Rept. 104-666 (1996). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-104hrpt666/pdf/CRPT-104hrpt666.pdf Defense of Marriage Act: Hearing on H.R. 3396 Before the Subcomm. on the Constitution of the H. Comm. on the Judiciary , 104 th Congress (1996), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-104hhrg25728/pdf/CHRG-104hhrg25728.pdfThe Defense of Marriage Act: Hearing on S. 1740 Before the S. Comm. on the Judiciary, ProQuest Congressional, 104 th Congress, 1996, available at http://congressional.proquest.com/congressional/docview/t29.d30.hrg-1996-sjs-0002? Lobbying, Homosexual Marriages , Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee Consideration and Mark-up, CQ Markup and Vote Coverage, 104 th Congress, 1996, available at http://www.cq.com/doc/committees-COMM107050?wr=bzR2QWhQbmtjMGxPcU9zVWFaT25odwPending Legislation, Full House Judiciary Committee Consideration and Mark-up , CQ Markup and Vote Coverage, 104 th Congress, 1996, available at http://www.cq.com/doc/committees-COMM108454?wr=bzR2QWhQbmtjMGxPcU9zVWFaT25odwSame-Sex Marriage , Full House Judiciary Committee Consideration and Mark-up , CQ Markup and Vote Coverage, 104 th Congress, 1996, available at http://www.cq.com/doc/committees-COMM108594?wr=Q1U4djBRbm5MbW1FQkR4b1dQSXZLZw Same-Sex Marriage Bill, House Rules Committee Mark-up on H.Res. 474 , Rules for Floor Debate, CQ Markup and Vote Coverage, 104 th Congress, 1996 available at http://www.cq.com/doc/committees-COMM111319?wr=bzR2QWhQbmtjMGxPcU9zVWFaT25odw 142 Cong. Rec. S4869 (daily ed. May 8, 1996) (Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1996-05-08/pdf/CREC-1996-05-08-pt1-PgS4851-2.pdf 142 Cong. Rec. S4947 (daily ed. May 9, 1996) (Additional Statements- Defense of Marriage Act). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1996-05-09/pdf/CREC-1996-05-09-pt1-PgS4947-3.pdf 142 Cong. Rec. H7270 (daily ed. July 11, 1996) (Providing for the Consideration of H.R. 3396 , Defense of Marriage Act). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1996-07-11/pdf/CREC-1996-07-11-pt1-PgH7270-4.pdf 142 Cong. Rec. H7441 (daily ed. July 11, 1996) (Defense of Marriage Act). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1996-07-11/pdf/CREC-1996-07-11-pt1-PgH7441-2.pdf 142 Cong. Rec. H7480 (daily ed. July 12, 1996) (Defense of Marriage Act). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1996-07-12/pdf/CREC-1996-07-12-pt1-PgH7480-5.pdf 142 Cong. Rec. S9926 (daily ed. September 5, 1996) (The Defense of Marriage Act; Cloture Motion). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1996-09-05/pdf/CREC-1996-09-05-pt1-PgS9926-2.pdf 142 Cong. Rec. S10100 (daily ed. September 10, 1996) (Defense of Marriage Act). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1996-09-10/pdf/CREC-1996-09-10-pt1-PgS10100-2.pdf 142 Cong. Rec. S10129 (daily ed. September 10, 1996) (Defense of Marriage Act). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1996-09-10/pdf/CREC-1996-09-10-pt1-PgS10129.pdf House Roll Call Vote 316 on H.R. 3396 (July 12, 1996).