Summarize the Code Construction Act rules regarding tense, number, and gender.

• A. Words in the present tense include the future tense; the singular includes the plural; the plural includes the singular; and words of one gender include the other genders
• B. The act restricts tense to present only
• C. The act ignores number and gender
• D. The act uses past tense to include future

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the Code Construction Act makes statutory language broad so the law applies in more situations. It says that words in the present tense include the future, so today’s wording can cover future events or actions. It also treats number as inclusive: the singular includes the plural, and the plural includes the singular, so a term can apply to one person or many without needing separate language. And it makes gender neutral by allowing words of one gender to include all genders, so masculine terms aren’t read as excluding women or nonbinary individuals.

This combination prevents narrow readings that would limit applicability. For example, if a statute refers to an “employee,” the rules ensure it can apply to present and future employees and to any number of employees, regardless of gender. The other options would impose unnecessary restrictions or misstate the Act’s intent, such as limiting tense to present only, ignoring number and gender, or using past tense to cover future actions.