LibGuides: Federal Rules and Regulations: Introduction

Introduction to this Guide

This research guide describes the structure and use of federal administrative law primary sources that you should know about when you engage in administrative law research. Although the structure of state administrative law and sources is similar, this guide does not cover state or international administrative law.

Introduction to Federal Rules and Regulations

Congress delegates to federal departments and agencies the power to issue rules and regulations which implement statutes and have the full force and effect of law. While such enabling statutes are usually broad in scope, rules and regulations are the detailed "nuts and bolts" that put a statute's intent into practice.

As required by the Federal Register Act of 1935 and its amendments, new rules must first appear in the daily Federal Register (FR), and all "in force" rules must appear annually in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

The Federal Register contains proposed and final rules issued on a given day, as well as public notices, presidential documents, and notices of Sunshine Act meetings.

The CFR contains only final rules in force, regardless of when they were originally issued, and is arranged by subject into 50 broad, numbered titles. The exception to this codified arrangement is Title 3 of the CFR, which contains presidential orders and proclamations arranged chronologically rather than by subject.

Both publications, the FR and the CFR, are copiously cross-referenced to each other, so that it is easy to trace the history of a rule from its proposal through its latest change. The CFR is generally preferred for its index, "in force" status, and subject arrangement. However, because the paper CFR is revised only once a year (to add new rules and delete rescissions), it must always be updated by examining recent issues of the Federal Register. Electronic versions vary; some may not need to be updated.

For further assistance with regulatory research, stop by the Reference Desk in the Library's Gateway.

Introductory Materials

Administrative Law and Process in a Nutshell by Ronald Levin; Jeffrey Lubbers
Call Number: KF5402 .L48 2017
ISBN: 9781628103557
Publication Date: 2016-12-30
This book offers a concise, knowledgeable guide to administrative law. In straightforward, readable prose, the authors not only summarize the dominant statutes and case law in the area, but also discuss informal administrative processes and the background realities of the regulatory state. Students can use the book as a complement to any major casebook, and practitioners will also find it an excellent brief introduction to this complex and important subject.

Here are some basic texts that cover federal rules and regulations.

The Federal Register: What It Is and How to Use It by Office of the Federal Register
Publication Date: 2006-
Online Tutorial available in .PDF or in HTML.
Inside Administrative Law [2d Edition] by Jack M. Beermann
Call Number: KF5402 .B444 2011
ISBN: 9781543823165
Publication Date: 2020-05-26
See especially Chapter 7.

Publisher's description: With dynamic learning features and visual aids, the Inside Series helps you make the most of your study time, throughout the semester and as you prepare for the final. Unlike heavily abridged treatises, the Inside Series is carefully written in a concise, straightforward style that clearly identifies the essential components of the law and how they fit together. You can quickly learn what is important and why. Overviews and Tables of Contents in each chapter act as a roadmap to guide you through topics, showing you how each relates to the larger legal framework.