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Legal Research

Basic guide to finding legal information

Laws & Statutes

U.S. LAWS 

United States Code — Government Information, 4th floor, Y 1.2/5: also find U.S. Code online

United States Code Annotated (USCA) — KF62 1927 .W45 

United States Code, Congressional and Administrative News (USCAN) — KF48.U554    
USCAN is a monthly update to the United States Code Annotated. Thus statutory law will appear here more quickly. Public laws will also appear in Statutes at Large. 

United States Statutes at Large — Government Information, 4th floor, AE 2.111:
The official U.S. statutes publication. Slip laws are also shelved with this set.   

TEXAS LAWS 

General and Special Laws of the State of Texas — KFT1230 .A2    
The Legislature meets in odd-numbered years and is frequently called into extra sessions.  Information on recently introduced bills is available through the Texas Legislature Online. 

Vernon's Annotated Constitution of the State of Texas — KFT1230.5 Al, also find Texas Constitution online

Vernon's Texas Session Law Service — KFT1225 .V47 

Vernon’s Texas Statutes and Codes Annotated — KFT1230.5 .V4 A31 

Vernon's Annotated Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas —KFT1230.5.A2 

San Marcos City Code — Ref KFX2371 .S33 A35   

Summaries of U.S. Laws 

Congress and the Nation — JK1 .C67 

Congressional Quarterly Almanac —  JK1 .C66

Congressional Quarterly Weekly Reports (CQ Weekly) — JK1 .C15

Administrative Rules & Regulations

Legislation often creates the need for enforcement of that law. Agencies are thus empowered to create rules and regulations that enforce legislation at the federal, state, and local levels. 

U.S. Rules & Regulations 

Code of Federal Regulations online     
Multi-volume set of federal regulations, organized by topical volumes. Has separate index volumes. Regulations published in the Federal Register will eventually be included in the CFR. 

Congressional Record online     
The Congressional Record contains proceedings, debates, and hearings information that may be helpful, especially regarding pending legislation or regulation as well as for historical research. 

Federal Register —  available online     
Daily publication. All federal regulations are supposed to be published here. Regulations are arranged within the FR by their sponsoring agencies. 

Texas Rules & Regulations 

Texas Register online      
Semi-weekly publication of Texas legislation, regulation, open meetings, etc. Regulations will also appear in the Texas Administration Code Texas

Administrative Code online     
All the rules and regulations adopted by Texas departments, agencies and commissions.