Drafting Legal Documents
Headings
Use a heading for each designated component of the regulations. A heading
is a catch line that describes the subject matter of a particular component of
your regulations. Descriptive headings should illustrate the logic and
arrangement of your regulations. Descriptive headings help readers locate the
provisions of the regulations that apply to them.
EXAMPLE:
Part 2 - EMERGENCY CHILD HEALTH CARE
Subpart A - Administration of Emergency Care
Sec.
2.1 Purpose
2.2 Applicability
2.3 Board of directors: Appointment.
2.4 Board of directors: Term of office.
2.5 Board of directors: Duties.
2.6 Filing complaints; time limits; action by the Board.
Subpart B - Maintenance of Information
2.10 Retain information 10 years.
2.11 Expunge information.
Use headings to indicate that material in a series of section is related.
EXAMPLE:
2.3 Board of directors: Appointment.
2.4 Board of directors: Term of office.
2.5 Board of directors: Duties.
Use headings to indicate that a group of related subjects is treated together
in a single section.
EXAMPLE:
2.6 Filing complaints; time limits; action by the Board.
Use headings only down to the section level of your regulations, unless a reader
would miss significant information in a section. However, headings at the paragraph
level are carried within the text of the CFR but not in the table of contents.
EXAMPLE:
2.10 Retain information 10 years.
(a) The 10-year rule.
(b) Exceptions: 15-year rule when younger sibling is endangered.
