I'm researching federal statutes. Where do I start?
Statutes, also known as acts, are laws passed by a legislature. Federal statutes are the laws passed by Congress, usually with the approval of the President. Federal statutes are published in three formats:
- Initial publication as a slip law;
- Arranged by law number in the United States Statutes at Large; and
- Codification in the United States Code or its predecessors.
The Law Library of Congress has published an online research guide on resources for finding and researching federal statutes. Researchers can visit Federal Statutes: A Beginner’s Guide to start their research.
Learn More
Was this helpful? 0 0
Learn More
Follow Us
Additional Ways to Contact Us
Send written correspondence to:
The Law Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue
Washington, DC 20540-4860
Please Note
We cannot provide legal advice, interpretation, or analysis which could be interpreted as the practice of law; extensive bibliographies or legislative histories; or answers for student homework assignments.