Laws and Regulations

Federal laws are bills that have passed both houses of Congress, been signed by the president, passed over the president's veto, or allowed to become law without the president's signature. Individual laws, also called acts, are arranged by subject in the United States Code. Regulations are rules made by executive departments and agencies, and are arranged by subject in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Finding Federal Laws, Acts, and Bills

The United States Code is a compilation of most public laws currently in force, organized by subject matter into 50 titles. The U.S. Code collates the original law with subsequent amendments, and it deletes language that has later been repealed or superseded. Compilations of laws are collections of individual acts in their current, amended form with cross-references to the United States Code for ease of use. Legislative measures that have been introduced in Congress but have not become law are known as bills.

How to find the U.S. Code

How to find Laws, Acts, or Statutes

How to find Copies of Bills

Compilations of Laws

Finding Rules and Regulations

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government. The Federal Register is published every business day by the National Archives and Records Administration ( NARA ). It contains federal agency regulations; proposed rules and notices; and executive orders, proclamations, and other presidential documents.

How to find theFederal Register and theCode of Federal Regulations

Search for Federal Regulations

Finding State Laws

State Legislature Web Pages

Uniform State Laws

Related Items

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Agencies

Frequently Asked Questions

Government Publications

Legislation and Records