Law Library Research Guide:
Federal Regulatory Law

Introduction:

The New Deal era of the 1930s resulted in a marked increase in federal regulation.  At that time, there was no central repository for federal rules and regulations.  In response to this situation, the Federal Register was created pursuant to the Federal Register Act, ch. 417, 49 Stat. 500 (1935). 

The Federal Register publishes proposed rules, final rules, and provides legal notice of administrative rules and notices. Federal agencies are required to publish notices of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register to enable citizens to participate in the decision making process of the Government.

Materials published in the Federal Register include Presidential documents (proclamations, executive orders, and other executive documents); rules and regulations adopted by executive agencies; proposed rules and regulations; and notices of proposed rules, hearings, and meetings.

The Federal Register:

The Federal Register (Law Library First Floor Range 102 and Microfiche) is published on every Federal work day. It is available from several different sources.  They utilize .pdf format HeinOnline Federal Register Library (coverage:  1936-present) and GPO Access (coverage:  1994–present) are popular choices for Federal Register research.

Additionally, although the format is not as useful as Hein Online or GPO Access, both Lexis from 1981 on and Westlaw 1936 on have the Federal Register. The Law Library retains the most current two years in print (Law Library First Floor Range 102) and has a complete collection in microfiche (Microfiche Room Cabinet 23)

For further information:  The Federal Register : What It Is and How To Use It:  A Guide for The User of the Federal Register-Code of Federal Regulations System.  KF70.A52U58.  Law Library First Floor Range 102.

The Code of Federal Regulations:

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (Law Library First Floor Range 102 and Microfiche) is an annual compilation of final regulations.  The regulations are organized into 50 different titles, roughly mirroring the arrangement of the United States Code.  Within each title, regulations are organized by agency instead of subject.  Each volume of the CFR is updated once each calendar year and is issued on a quarterly basis.  In order to obtain the most current regulations on a given topic, the researcher must consult the current issue of the CFR, then update their research by searching the Federal Register for any changes adopted since the CFR was published.  This is accomplished in print by using the CFR List of Sections Affected.

The Law Library maintains the current edition of the CFR in print  (Law Library First Floor Range 102) and retains older editions back to 1938 in microfiche (Microfiche Room Cabinets 11-13)

The Code of Federal Regulations is also available in electronic format from HeinOnline (coverage:  1938-present) and from GPO Access (with coverage back to 1996).  Lexis and Westlaw also have the CFR (1981-present), although the format is harder to use than the format used for Hein Online and GPO Access.

Tracking Regulations:

Many researchers skim the Federal Register each day to keep track of regulations and topics of interest.  There is a better way.  Justia Regulation Tracker  lists all pending regulations, organized by agency.  You can search the database or set up an RSS feed.

Another useful web site is Regulations.gov.  This Federal Government web site lets citizens participate in the rulemaking process by providing a place for commentary on all pending regulations. 

Presidential Documents:

Presidential documents such as executive orders and proclamations.  While these can be found in the Federal Register and in Title 3 of  the Code of Federal Regulations, the most comprehensive source for presidential documents is the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. 

The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents contains executive orders and proclamations as well as nominations, announcements, and transcripts of speeches and press conferences.  It is available from several electronic sources, including HeinOnline Presidential Library (1965 to November 2006) and  Westlaw (2000 to present).  It is also available in the Law Library First Floor Range 102.

Treatises and Directories:

Some examples follow, for other publications search the GMU Library Catalog.

GMU Databases:

  • LLMC Digital Online access to the full text of the Law Library Microform Consortium collection of legal and government documents material. Collection includes historical U.S. administrative decisions from the executive agencies.
  • Hein OnLine A constantly growing collection of legal periodicals that currently includes over 1000 full-text journals. Also includes Federal Register Library, U.S. Federal Agency Library, and U.S. Presidential Library.

Journals:

Internet: