The
Federal Register: What It Is And How To Use It. Lau
Gov Docs Stx AE2.108:F31/2
Explains the contents and organization of The Federal Register and The
Code of Federal Regulations and offers guidance for users on appropriate
research strategies.
The Office of the Federal Register has created an online tutorial to replace
this print document. Access the tutorial at
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/tutorial/index.html
A
Research Guide to the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations.
<http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/fed-reg-cfr.pdf>
This guide, written by Rick McKinney and available through the Law
Librarian's Society Legislative Source Book, details the history
of the
Federal Register. It explains its organization and content
and gives helpful tips on finding specific information.
Federal
Register
Issued each business day, the Federal Register is a publication containing
regulations of the Executive and independent agencies, as well as proposed
rules and administrative orders. Legal notices and announcement of government
meetings are also included. The Federal Register also includes
Presidential documents such as Proclamations and Executive Orders.
Print copies
are frequently received a month or more after publication, but most
notices listed are of a timely nature. For the most recent Federal
Register,
use the electronic versions listed below.
Print unbound
copies of the most recent
year are in Government Documents and Microforms:
Federal
Register Lau Gov Docs Stx AE2.106
Electronic access to
issues from 1994-current:
GPO Access - http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html
Federal Register at the National Archives - http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/
HeinOnline (off-campus
access) has access to the Federal
Register from its inception, 1936-current.
Click on the "Federal Register Library",
then on the Federal Register, then on the individual volume.
LexisNexis
Congressional (off-campus
access) has access to the Federal Register, 1981-current.
Click on "Regulations", then select the radio button "Federal Register".
Narrow your search by entering a search term, restricting by agency
name, by action, or by date.
Microfiche sets
from 1970-2006 are
in Government Documents and Microforms:
LAU Gov Docs Cabinet 77
Unified
Agenda
<http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ua/index.html>
This semiannual regulatory plan is published in the Federal Register in
the spring and fall each calendar year, usually in April and October. The
agendas are arranged by agency and describe new developments and priorities
in upcoming regulatory actions. Online access is provided by GPO
Access from 1994-current.
Federal
Register Index Lau Gov Docs Stx. AE2.106:vol./no./ind.
This index is issued separately in paper format each month
and then cumulated into an annual index. It provides access,
by government agency name, to the contents of the daily issues. Each
index includes a reference table of pages and dates which directs
the user to the needed issue.
Electronic
access for the Current Federal
Register Index from 1998-current:
<http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/the-federal-register/indexes.html>
| III. Code of Federal Regulations |
Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR). Lau Gov Docs Stx.
AE2.106/3: issues from 1938-current.
The CFR is divided into fifty titles, and provides a codification of
the permanent regulations which have been published by agencies in the daily Federal
Register. Each title is revised on an annual basis and covers a broad subject
area, which is further divided into chapters and parts. Each volume of the CFR includes
a table of contents and finding aids. The complete CFR set consists
of approximately 200 volumes. Title 3 covers the Presidency, containing a compilation
of Presidential documents.
LexisNexis
Congressional (off-campus
access) has access to the Code of Federal Regulations, 1981-current.
Click on "Regulations", then select the radio button "Code
of Federal Regulations".
Narrow your search by entering a search term or restricting by
agency name.
Code
of Federal Regulations Index and Finding Aids. Lau Gov Docs
Stx. AE2.106/3-2: issues from 1976-current.
This volume is a generalized index to the CFR and comes out once each
year on January 1. It is an alphabetical listing of agency names as well as
subject headings and is designed to guide the user to specific CFR Parts.
The end of each annual index includes finding aids such as an alphabetical
list of agenices and their corresponding CFR Title, Chapter and Part. A "Parallel
Table of Authorities and Rules" links U.S.Code and U.S. Public
Law cites to CFR documents.
List
of CFR Sections Affected (LSA). Lau Gov Docs Stx. AE2.106/2
The LSA is a numerical finding aid that is published monthly with quarterly
cumulations. Searching access is by CFR title, chapter and part. Using
the latest CFR citation, the user is directed to Federal Register entries
that update the cite with revisions or removals. A table at the end of each
volume directs users from page numbers to particular Federal Register issues.
Electronic
access to the List
of Sections Affected from 1986-current:
GPO Access - <http://www.gpoaccess.gov/lsa/index.html>
Browse or search the electronic LSA service to update CFR citations with current
Federal Register material.
Federal
Register Document Drafting Handbook. Lau Gov Docs
Stx AE2.108:D 65/991
Guidelines on writing and submitting rules and regulations are outlined here.
Also provides background on the Federal Register, its organization
and contents. The most recent edition is from October 1998 (Lau
Gov Docs MF AE2.108/D 65/998).
Online version
at the National
Archives at <http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/write/handbook>
House
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. <http://oversight.house.gov/>
The Information Policy, Census, and National Archives subcommittee
jurisdiction "includes public information and records laws such as
the Freedom of Information Act, the Presidential Records Act, and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Census Bureau, and the National
Archives and Records Administration" (from the site). As administrations
change, so does the naming and organization of committees and subcommittees.
See the main page for the House of
Representatives for the latest details
<http://www.house.gov/>
Regulations.gov. <http://www.regulations.gov/>
Regulations.gov provides access to the public to find, view, and comment on federal
regulatory actions. Search on documents that are open for comment, published
for comment, regulations by topic, and comments on regulations that are due
on today's date. Create custom reports on specific dockets or documents.
Regulatory
Information Service Center. <http://www.reginfo.gov>
The Regulatory Information Service Center was established in 1981 and is a division
within the U.S. General Services Administration. Its mission is to increase access
to regulatory information at the federal, state and local levels. It assists
officials of the U.S. Government, as well as the general public, by gathering
and publishing information on regulatory policies. The website provides documents
and links to many regulatory sources.
| V.
Citing Regulatory Materials |
The Federal Register is cited by volume and number for the
issue, and often includes the date
and pagination.
"Ergonomics Program; Proposed Rule," 64 Federal Register 225
(23 November 1999), pp. 65768-66078.
The Code of Federal Regulations is cited by the title, part
number, and edition number.
" Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards," Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part
571. 1999 ed.
|
VI. The Federal Regulatory Process |
The Reg
Map is a detailed graphic showing the step-by-step, informal rulemaking
process. It is available as a printable chart at <http://reginfo.gov/public/reginfo/Regmap/regmap.pdf>
Content updated: 11/07, kb
Links updated: 11/07, kb
