Researching

Statutes
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
A Bill Becomes A Law
 Bill becomes a law, either
the House version (H.R.)
or the Senate version (S).

 Bill receives a Public Law

Number: Pub.L. 94-553
(Number of Congress and
Sequential Number of Bill)
 Legislative Branch
The United States Statutes at Large, typically referred to as the Statutes at Large,
is the permanent collection of all laws and resolutions enacted during each
session of Congress. Statutes are arranged in chronological order.

90 Stat. 2576
Pub.L. 94-553, Oct. 19, 1976.

These laws are then arranged by subject, or codified, in the U.S. Code. West and
Lexis have the United States Code Annotated and the United States Code
Service, respectively.

17 U.S.C. § 305 17 U.S.C.A. § 305 17 U.S.C.S. § 305

 United States
Code
 United States Code (U.S.C.)
 Official version used in for citation in court
documents. Updated roughly every six years
and with supplements

 United States Code Annotated (U.S.C.A.)

 West Publication. Contain very helpful
references to cases, encyclopedia topics, and
law review articles.
 Also on Westlaw - USCA

 United States Code Service (U.S.C.S.)

 Lexis Publication. Contains its own helpful
references to cases, regulations, forms and
law review articles.

 The same numbering is used in all three

sets.
States also have codified legislation

Check your bluebook for

which version of the state
code to cite to a court.
Some states print have
their own code, while other
states rely on West or
Lexis to print the code.
How to Find the Law with a Code
 Know the Name of the Law:
 Search the Popular Names Table

 Know the Subject Matter of the Law:

 Search the Subject Index

 Know the Statutes at Large or Public Law number:

 Search the Statutes at Large Index

 Parts of the Law not found in the Code:

 Look at the Uncodified Laws Volume

* Make sure to check the pocket part or use an online resource for the most up-to-
date information on the law.