Kara Sears
Tracing the enactment of a law can be a complex process, but understanding the basics can help simplify it. The first step is to identify the relevant U.S. Code section, which can be done through print or online resources. Each U.S. Code section will have a source credit or source note at the end, listing all the laws that have affected or created that section, with the first citation referring to the public law that gave rise to it. These citations include a public law number or chapter number, the date of enactment, and a reference to where the law can be found in the United States Statutes at Large. These Statutes at Large are published annually and are accessible through various sources, including free online databases and libraries. Additionally, for laws referred to as acts or statutes, the United States Code (U.S.C.) provides the amended version in force.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First step | Look at the U.S. Code section of interest in a print or online resource |
| U.S. Code title is a positive law title | "Historical and Revision Notes" specify the laws that formed the basis of sections included when the title was first enacted into positive law |
| Bill numbers related to public laws before 1904 | Eugene Nabors' Legislative Reference Checklist: The Key To Legislative Histories From 1789 To 1903 |
| Source credit | A public law number or chapter number, the date the public law was enacted, and a citation to where the public law can be found in the United States Statutes at Large |
| United States Statutes at Large citation | A number, the abbreviation "Stat.", and another number indicating the volume number and the page on which the pertinent section of the public law begins |
| Public laws before 1875 | Visit the Library of Congress's "A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation" site |
| Public laws from 1875 to the present | Visit The Constitution Society's United States Statutes at Large website |
| Public laws from 1995 to the present | Visit GovInfo |
| Public laws from 1993 to the present | Visit Congress.gov |
| Public laws from 1940s | Visit USCCAN, a West print publication |
| Public Law references | Westlaw's graphical statute display |
| Statute definitions | Historical and Statutory Notes |
| Public laws from 1995-1996 to the current Congress | Visit GPO govinfo |
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What You'll Learn
- Check the US Code section of interest in print or online
- Look for the source credit or source note at the end of the US Code section
- Each citation listed will include the date the public law was enacted
- Find the original bill number using the public law or statute citation
- Check the US Statutes at Large, which lists laws chronologically
Check the US Code section of interest in print or online
To find out which law created a specific US Code section and which law or laws may have amended the section, you should refer to a print or online resource. Federal Statutes: A Beginner's Guide is a recommended resource for finding the US Code in print and online. The US Code is also available on Westlaw and Lexis, in annotated and unannotated formats.
Once you have located the US Code section of interest, look at the very end of the section for a series of citations enclosed in parentheses. This is called a "source credit" or "source note", and it lists all the laws that have affected or created that section of the US Code. The first citation will give information about the public law that gave rise to the US Code section. Each subsequent citation, separated by a semicolon, provides information about the public laws that amended the US Code section.
If the US Code title is a positive law title, there may be "Historical and Revision Notes", which "specify the laws that formed the basis of sections that were included in the title when the title was first enacted into positive law". The first act in the source credits for such a section is the act that enacted the title into positive law.
Note that if you are using a free online resource for tracing purposes, there may not be source credit information available. The Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the US provides a US Code page that you can use instead.
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Look for the source credit or source note at the end of the US Code section
To determine which law created a specific US Code section, and which law or laws may have amended the section over time, you should refer to the end of the US Code section. Here, you will find a series of citations enclosed in parentheses, known as a "source credit" or "source note". This lists all the laws that have affected or created the US Code section in question.
Each source credit will be laid out chronologically, with the first citation providing information about the public law that gave rise to the US Code section. The citation will include a public law number or chapter number, the date the public law was enacted, and a citation to where the public law can be found in the United States Statutes at Large. The United States Statutes at Large citation lists a number, then the abbreviation "Stat.", and then another number. The first number is the volume number, and the second number is the page on which the pertinent section of the public law begins.
It is important to note that any given provision in the current US Code may be the result of multiple acts passed over an extended period. Therefore, it is crucial to consult the source credits or source notes to understand the legislative history and identify the original law that established the US Code section.
Additionally, if the US Code title is a positive law title, there may be "Historical and Revision Notes" that specify the laws that formed the basis of the sections included in the title when it was first enacted into positive law. The first act in the source credits for such a section is the act that enacted the title into positive law.
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Each citation listed will include the date the public law was enacted
Tracing the enactment of a law can be a complex process. The first step is to look at the U.S. Code section of interest in a print or online resource. The U.S. Code may be found in print or online, with the latter being almost always more current. The U.S. Code will list a series of citations at the end, enclosed in parentheses, called a "source credit" or "source note". These list all the laws that have affected or created the U.S. Code section, with the first citation giving information about the public law that gave rise to the U.S. Code section. Each source credit will be laid out chronologically.
Each citation listed will include at least three pieces of information: a public law number or chapter number, the date the public law was enacted, and a citation to where the public law can be found in the United States Statutes at Large. The United States Statutes at Large citation lists a number, then the abbreviation “Stat.”, and then another number. The first number is the volume number, and the second number is the page on which the pertinent section of the public law begins. For example, the Consumer Credit Protection Act became Chapter 41 of Title 15 of the U.S. Code when it was enacted in 1968.
Public laws are published in annual volumes called the United States Statutes at Large, published by the Government Publishing Office. A more timely resource for finding the text of laws as originally passed by Congress is U.S. Code Congressional and Administrative News (U.S.C.C.A.N.), a commercial publication. Public laws may also be available in large library systems or college libraries, often as part of their participation in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).
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Find the original bill number using the public law or statute citation
When a bill is first introduced in the House or Senate, it is assigned a number and a "short title", i.e., the law's popular name. This name may change, but the bill number stays the same throughout the process. If a bill becomes law, it gets a public law (Pub. L.) number in its first printing as a slip law. All the slip laws are then printed chronologically as session laws in the Statutes at Large (Stat.), before being codified by subject in the U.S.C.
The U.S.C., U.S.C.A., and U.S.C.S. have tables that alphabetically list the popular names of acts and provide complete citations, including Public Law (P.L.) numbers and Statutes at Large references. The Public Law (P.L.) number and the Statutes at Large citation appear at the end of the text of the statute in the U.S.C., U.S.C.A., and U.S.C.S.
To find the original bill number for a public law from 1904 to the present, look at the first page of the public law as printed in the United States Statutes at Large. To the left or right of the first section of the public law (depending on whether the public law starts on an even or odd page), there will be information about the bill number and the date of enactment.
Congress.gov contains information on Public Laws from the 93rd Congress (1973-1974) onwards. You can browse this information by Public Law Number, Bill Number, or search by keyword. The Senate Calendar of Business and the Congressional Record, published daily when the Senate is in session, are useful for identifying current legislation.
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Check the US Statutes at Large, which lists laws chronologically
The United States Statutes at Large is a valuable resource for those interested in the enactment of laws. It is a collection of public laws published in annual volumes by the Government Publishing Office at the end of each session of Congress. Each law is assigned a number, followed by the abbreviation "Stat." and another number, indicating the volume number and the page where the law begins, respectively.
The United States Statutes at Large is a chronological record of laws, providing a historical perspective on legislation. It is accessible through various sources, including free online options such as GovInfo, which offers coverage from 1789 to 2019. The Law Library also provides digitised access to the Statutes at Large, covering the period from 1789 to 1950 in PDF format.
When tracing a piece of legislation, it is essential to refer to the relevant section of the United States Code ("U.S. Code") in print or online. The U.S. Code may have been amended over the years, so it is crucial to consult the end of the section for a series of citations known as "source credits" or "source notes." These citations are listed chronologically, with the first citation providing information about the public law that initially created the U.S. Code section.
By examining the source credits, individuals can identify the public law number or chapter number, the date of enactment, and the reference to the United States Statutes at Large. This information enables a deeper understanding of the legislative history and the evolution of a particular legal provision.
In summary, the United States Statutes at Large serves as a comprehensive and chronological record of laws, offering valuable insights into the enactment and development of legislation over time. It is complemented by the U.S. Code, which may be amended and includes source credits that provide additional contextual information. Together, these resources facilitate research and understanding of the legal landscape in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to look at the U.S. Code section of interest in a print or online resource. To determine which laws created or amended a section of the U.S. Code, look at the end of the section for a series of citations called "source credits" or "source notes". The first citation will give information about the public law that gave rise to the U.S. Code section.
Each source credit will have at least three pieces of information: a public law number or chapter number, the date the public law was enacted, and a citation to where the public law can be found in the United States Statutes at Large.
At the end of each session of Congress, public laws are published in annual volumes called the United States Statutes at Large, published by the Government Publishing Office. The United States Statutes at Large citation lists a number, then the abbreviation "Stat.", and then another number. The first number is the volume number, and the second number is the page on which the pertinent section of the public law begins.
One way to find a law's original bill number is to look up its Pub. L. or Stat. citation. Whichever citation you use, the statute (since 1904) will display the enacted bill number at the top.
