Federal Rules and Regulations

For federal rules and regulations, there are two primary publications, the Federal Register (FR) and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).  Each has its own publication pattern.  Whether you are researching in paper format or in electronic format, the publication pattern is likely to be relevant.

The primary arrangement of the FR is chronological.  It provides a uniform system for publishing presidential documents, regulatory documents with general applicability and legal effect, proposed and final regulations, notices, and documents required by statute to be published. Proposed and final regulations appear first in the FR. In order for any administrative regulation to be legally effective, it must be published in the FR.

The law library makes available a complete set of the Federal Register dating back to its beginning in 1936:

Rule 14.2 of the Bluebook sets forth the proper form for citing to the Federal Register. The following is an example of a citation to the Federal Register:  Importation of Fruits and Vegetables, 60 Fed. Reg. 50,379, 50,381 (1995) (to be codified at 7 C.F.R. pt. 300).

The primary arrangement of the CFR is by topic; the topics relate to the administrative agencies issuing the rules.  The CFR contains only final rules in force.  It is the primary place to look for regulatory documents with general applicability and legal effect.  Although proposed and final regulations first appear in the FR, effective research should begin in the CFR -- in order to have a baseline as to what is in force on a certain date.

The law library makes available a complete set of the Code of Federal Regulations dating back to its beginning in 1938:

Rule 14.2 of the Bluebook sets forth the proper form for citing to the Code of Federal Regulations. The following is an example of a citation to the CFR:  FCC Broadcast Radio Services, 47 C.F.R. § 73.609 (2009).