Gavin Howe
There are many websites that can be used to look up laws, acts, and statutes. The United States Code is a good source for finding laws that are currently in force. GPO govinfo provides the full text of public laws from 1995 onwards, while Congress.gov provides the full text of laws from 1993 onwards. Public laws may also be available in large library systems or college libraries as part of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). The Law Library of Congress, Zimmerman's Research Guide, and the Social Science Research Network are also good sources for legal research. For federal laws and regulations, USAGov is a useful website. FindLaw provides legal blogs with the latest legal news and information, as well as resources for business formation and ongoing compliance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Website | USAGov |
| Website | GPO govinfo |
| Website | Congress.gov |
| Website | FindLaw |
| Website Feature | Legislation search tool |
| Website Feature | Browse by subject |
| Website Feature | Ask a real person government-related questions |
| Website Feature | Free source of state and federal court opinions |
| Availability | Public laws may be available in large library systems or college libraries |
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What You'll Learn
Public laws in libraries
Public laws may be available in large library systems or college libraries, often as part of their participation in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). Over 1,100 libraries participate in the FDLP, collecting and/or providing public access to government documents. A list of depository libraries is available on the Government Publishing Office's website. The United States Code also provides the full text of public laws from the 104th Congress (1995-1996) to the current Congress.
State laws and regulations also affect the operations of public libraries. For example, the California Library Laws is an annual publication that collects state laws and regulations pertaining to library business. It is compiled by the librarians of the Witkin State Law Library and includes laws and regulations relating to statewide library programs, local library programs, and tax provisions, among other topics. New York State also has laws governing the conduct of public libraries, including the Education Law, Labor Law, Public Officers Law, and the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law.
In addition to laws about libraries, there are also laws protecting the confidentiality of library records. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia have laws that declare a library user's records and information are confidential and not subject to disclosure unless certain conditions are met, such as a user's consent or a court order. Libraries should have procedures in place for working with law enforcement officers when a subpoena or other legal order for records is made.
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Federal laws on USAGov
USAGov is a helpful resource for researching federal laws and regulations. The website provides information on how federal laws are made and how to get copies of government files. You can also learn about copyrighted government creative works and the rules for using materials from federal websites.
USAGov advises that there is no official, single list of all federal laws, according to the Library of Congress. However, you can research federal laws from 1799 to the present using Congress.gov's legislation search tool. This tool allows you to browse laws by subject using the U.S. Code, which compiles most public laws currently in force. You can look up current and past federal laws and bills by name, subject, keywords, congressional session, or type of legislation.
Congress.gov provides the full text of laws from the 103rd Congress (1993-1994) onwards and summaries from the 93rd Congress onwards. Additionally, you can access links to Public Laws via the GPO govinfo site. The United States Statutes at Large, published annually by the Government Publishing Office, also contain the text of laws passed by Congress. These can be found in large public libraries or federal depository libraries.
It is important to note that official government websites in the United States use the ".gov" domain, and secure .gov websites can be identified by "https://" in the URL. Always ensure you are on an official and secure website before sharing any sensitive information.
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State laws on FindLaw
FindLaw.com is a website that provides free access to US codes and statutes, as well as state codes and statutes. It also offers legal news, insights, and updates through its legal blogs, which are aimed at both consumers and legal professionals. The website covers a wide range of topics, including business formation, ongoing compliance, choosing the right lawyer, understanding legal fees, and child-related legal issues, such as determining when a child can stay home alone.
In addition to FindLaw, there are other resources available for looking up laws, acts, and statutes. The US Senate website provides information on how to find federal laws, acts, and statutes, including where to access the full text of public and private laws. GPO Govinfo, for example, offers the full text of laws from the 104th Congress (1995-1996) to the current Congress. Similarly, Congress.gov provides access to the full text of laws from the 103rd Congress (1993-1994) onwards, along with summaries from the 93rd Congress to the current session. For older laws, the Senate and House Document Rooms may provide copies of slip laws.
Public laws can also often be found in large library systems or college libraries that participate in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). This program involves over 1,100 libraries that collect and provide public access to government documents. Additionally, websites like USAGov offer information on federal laws and regulations, including copyrights and obtaining copies of government files.
While FindLaw provides a comprehensive overview of legal topics and state and federal laws, it is always important to note that laws can be amended over time. Therefore, when seeking specific legal information, it is crucial to refer to the most up-to-date sources and consult official government websites or seek legal advice from qualified professionals.
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GPO govinfo for law texts
GPO govinfo is a useful resource for finding law texts. It provides the full text of public and private laws from the 104th Congress (1995-1996) to the current Congress. This includes the amended versions of laws that are currently in force, which can be found in the United States Code. For example, a law may be referred to as an act, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act. GPO govinfo also offers access to the full text of laws from the 103rd Congress (1993-1994) and summaries from the 93rd Congress to the present. Additionally, over 1,100 libraries participate in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), providing public access to government documents, including public laws. A list of depository libraries can be found on GPO's website.
The GPO govinfo website also includes links to other useful resources for legal research. For instance, Congress.gov offers the full text of laws from the 103rd Congress onwards and provides summaries from the 93rd Congress to the current Congress. Furthermore, the Senate and House Document Rooms may be able to provide copies of slip laws upon request.
In addition to GPO govinfo, there are alternative online resources for finding law texts. For instance, FindLaw provides free access to federal court opinions, the United States Code, and various legal blogs covering the latest legal news and information for both consumers and legal professionals. These blogs can offer insights and updates on legal rights, insurance claims, and other legal topics.
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Congress.gov for law texts
Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information. It provides various methods for accessing the full texts of legislation.
Congress.gov provides the full text of laws from the 103rd Congress (1993-1994) to the current Congress and summaries from the 93rd Congress to the current Congress. Text versions for bills and joint resolutions dating from 1799 (6th Congress) to 1873 (42nd Congress) are available on Congress.gov. House-originated bill text versions are available from 1799 (6th Congress), Senate-originated bill text versions are available from 1819 (16th Congress), and Senate-originated joint resolution text versions are available from 1823 (18th Congress). Bill and resolution texts published by GPO are available on Congress.gov from 1993 (103rd Congress). Law texts published by GPO are available on Congress.gov dating from 1951 (82nd Congress).
Congress.gov provides three options for limiting searches to legislation text. The Legislation Text search form uses a special set of search operators, including proximity and ordered proximity operators. The search operators can be used to find information about search operators for use specifically on the Legislation Text form in Search Tools. After executing a word search, the box next to Show Keywords In Context can be checked to view up to two snippets within the text containing the searched word or phrase.
Congress.gov also provides access to the daily Digest of the latest legislative activity. The website also includes nine videos explaining each of the common legislative stages, and that the process by which a bill becomes law is rarely predictable.
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Frequently asked questions
You can find federal laws on Congress.gov, USAGov, and FindLaw.
You can find state laws on FindLaw.
Public laws may be available in large library systems or college libraries as part of their participation in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).
A law may also be referred to as an act or a statute.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
