FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
I. The Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations
Federal Register
Published every weekday since 1936 the Federal Register (FR) contains rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies. Executive orders and proclamations are also included in the FR. Each issue of the FR contains a table of contents organized alphabetically by agency name for easy searching.
The FR is accessible via:
1. GPO Access (1994-Present)
The Government Printing Office (GPO) publishes browsable and searchable PDF or text versions of the Federal Register. Using the “page number” search tool it is possible to easily retrieve an exact citation.
One can sign up to receive the FR table of contents via email at:
2. HeinOnline (1936-2007)
Location: Charlottelaw.org à Law Library à Library Databases
Hein publishes the complete Federal Register in PDF format. Due to a moving wall of coverage the most recent issues of the Federal Register will not be available on Hein.
3. Westlaw (1936 – Present)
Location:
FR database (1981-Present)
FR-ALL (1936 – Present)
FR-OLD (1936-1980)
Westlaw does not provide pdfs of the Federal Register, but one is able to take advantage of enhanced search options.
4. Lexis-Nexis (1980 – Present)
Location: FEDREG database
Like Westlaw, Lexis provides enhanced search options but does not offer pdfs.
Code of Federal Regulations
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) collects and codifies individual Federal Register issues. The CFR is divided into 50 general titles. Some of the CFR titles correspond to the titles of the USC but many do not. Titles are updated on a quarterly basis:
Title 1-16 January 1
Title 17-27 April 1
Title 28-41 July 1
Title 42-50 October 1
The CFR is accessible via:
1. Code of Federal Regulations (2007)
Location: Atrium, KF 70 .A35
Charlotte School of Law Library is building a collection of print CFR volumes.
2. GPO Access (1996- Present)
The CFR is available in either text or PDF at GPO Access online. Exact citations can be accessed using “Retrieve by CFR citation”.
3. HeinOnline (1938-1983)
Location: Charlottelaw.org à Law Library à Library Databases --> Hein --> Federal Register Library
HeinOnline contains the CFR in PDF format.
4. Westlaw (1984 - Present)
Location: CFR; earlier years are organized by the pattern CFR2006, CFR2005, etc.
5. Lexis-Nexis (1981 – Present)
Location: CFR database. Earlier years are organized by the pattern CFR06, CFR05, etc.
Legal à Federal Legal U.S. à CFR
II. Indexes
Full text online keyword searching is useful when distinctive terms are known, however when less information is known it is difficult to find relevant results due to the huge volume of pages in the CFR and FR. The indexes listed below offer a quick method to finding a relevant section of the CFR or FR.
1. West’s Code of Federal Regulations: General Index (2007)
Location: Reference, KF 70 .A34 W47
This four volume index, updated yearly, indexes the CFR in great detail.
2. HeinOnline: Federal Register Indexes (1939 – 2006)
Location: Charlottelaw.org à Law Library à Library Databases à Hein à Federal Register Library
Hein’s historical indexes are reproduced in a PDF format.
3. Westlaw: Regulations Plus Index (2007)
Location: CFR à Regulations Plus Index
III. Updating
Traditionally regulations were updated in print using the List of Sections Affected (LSA). However with a continuously updated CFR online this process has been streamlined.
1. Westlaw
Information regarding the timeliness of the regulation is displayed in the title section at the top of the screen. Westlaw updates within one to two weeks. To update a regulation search the Federal Register from the date to the present. CFR sections can be Keycited to find references to new cases, administrative decisions and secondary sources.
2. Lexis-Nexis
Information regarding the timeliness of the regulation is displayed in the title section at the top of the screen. Lexis updates regulations within two weeks of publications. To update a regulation search the Federal Register from the date to the present. CFR sections can be Shepardized to find references to new cases, administrative decisions and secondary sources.
3. Gpoaccess.gov
The e-CFR will update within a few days of new federal regulations.
IV. The United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations
Lexis publishes tables that correlate the CFR to the USC. These tables allow a researcher to compare the regulations with the statutory framework.
USCS Tables
Location: Atrium KF 62 1972 .L38
The USCS includes both CFR to USCS and USCS to CFR tables.
V. Related Administrative Law Resources
United States Government Manual
The U.S. Government Manual summarizes the activities and purpose of executive agencies as well as providing basic information about the judicial and legislative branches.
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
1. GPO Access (1993 – Present)
2. HeinOnline (1965 – 2006)
Location: Charlottelaw.org --> Law Library à Library Databases --> Hein --> U.S. Presidential Library --> Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
3. Westlaw (2000 – Present)
Location: WCPD database
LLMC Digital Administrative Researches
Location: Charlottelaw.org --> Law Library --> Library Databases --> LLMC Digital --> U.S. Federal à Executive
1. U.S. Presidential Messages and Papers (1789-1914)
2. U.S. Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders (1954-1989)
3. Independent Agencies and Government Corporations (Coverage varies)
LLMC digital has placed many historical volumes online including Federal Trade Commission decisions (1914 -1999), Railroad Labor Board decisions (1920-1926) and Security & Exchange Commission decisions and reports (1934-1997).
4. Public Papers of the Presidents (1929 – 1932, 1945 – 2001)
VI. Agency Resources Online
Many agencies make the process of finding regulations easier by publishing regulations on their website. An official list of government departments and agencies is available at:
Agency regulations are also compiled at:
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