Use of this guide assumes some familiarity with legal research. For assistance, ask at the Reference Counter.
UNITED STATES CODE : US Docs Ref Y 1.2/5:
The U.S. Code, cited as "U.S.C.," is a multi-volume publication, issued every six years (with the 2000 edition in progress). The Code contains statutes, or public laws, currently in force; it is updated in annual bound supplements.
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Context and background information to laws passed by Congress through a topic or subject is possible from LexisNexis Congressional and Thomas (from the Library of Congress) The several reference tools located in US Docs Ref section provide background and aid access to laws from 1789 onward, through subject/keyword or through Act name (CIS, Monthly Catalog, Cumulative Subject or Title Index to the Monthly Catalog, etc.). University of Berkeley Library provides helpful guides for Congressional Research.
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS : US Docs Ref AE 2.106/3:
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), updated and issued annually, contains regulations issued by Federal executive agencies. These 200-odd paperback volumes are arranged by 50 Titles. However, unlike the U.S. Code (U.S.C.), these Titles are arranged by agency. A list of all agencies and corresponding Titles appears in the back of every CFR volume. Like the U.S.C., Titles in the CFR appear as Arabic numerals. CFR titles and U.S.C. Titles do not necessarily match.
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LSA: List of CFR Sections Affected updates changes to Federal regulations. A record of affected sections appears in each volume of the current CFR. The LSA is also available online from GPO Access. Detailed information about Federal regulations that appear in the CFR, as well as updates to the annual CFR, appear in the Federal Register.
FEDERAL REGISTER: in US Docs microfiche cabinets under Federal Register The Drew library owns microfiche from 1973 onward
Federal agency rules, proposed rules, and notices as well as executive orders and other presidential documents are published in the Federal Register, issued daily Monday through Friday. Online versions of the Federal Register are available from GPO Access from Volume 59 (1994), with searchable fields available from 1995 onward. LexisNexis Academic has the full text of the FR from July 1, 1980 onward.
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