How do you find current federal statutory law? You
use the United States Code (U.S.C.), United States Code Annotated
(U.S.C.A.) or United States Code Service (U.S.C.S.) located on
the third floor.
The law in all three U.S. Codes is arranged by subject matter
using identical numerical title and section numbers (parallel
cites). E.g., the law cited in Title 16 U.S.C. §839;
16 U.S.C.A. §839; and 16 U.S.C. S. §839 will read exactly
the same in all three publications. Differences between
the codes are reflected not in the law, but in the editorial enhancements
and timelines of publication.
As a matter of convenience, most lawyers use either U.S.C.A.
or U.S.C.S. because these codes are "annotated" with legislative
history and court opinions, have detailed annual indices and are
kept current through the use of softbound pamphlets (pocket parts)
located in the back covers of each volume and, if the legislature
is in session, softbound pamphlets (advance sheets) located at
the end of each set which update the pocket parts. The United
States Code (U.S.C.) is not annotated with court opinions, lacks
a current consolidated index and has a cumbersome updating method.
All three sets have tables to convert Statute-at-Large (Stat.),
Public Law (P.L.) and popular name citations to code citations.
If you are beginning your search with a citation to a Public
Law number, such as P.L. 96-501 (96th Congress - law #501), or
a citation to a Statute-at-Large such as 94 Stat. 2697 (Volume
94, page 2697), or the popular name of a law, such as the Northwest
Power Act; use the tables at the end of the code index volumes
to convert your citation or popular name to a code title and section
number.
Otherwise, simply use the multi-volume annual indices to look
up your topic by subject to find a code title and section number.
Online access to the U.S. Code is available through the Law Library
home page at www.willamette.edu/law/longlib/.
Click on Federal Law. Law students may also search the federal
code using either Westlaw or Lexis.
Remember, once you have found your title and section number,
you must check the relevant softbound pamphlet (pocket part) located
in the back cover of your U.S.C.A. or U.S.C.S. volume and any
softbound pamphlets (advance sheets) located at the end of the
set updating the pocket part to determine if your law has been
revised in some manner.
Postscript: If you wish to read a federal law in its entirety
as it was originally enacted and you have its popular name, Public
Law number or Statute-at-Large citation:
