Regulations : Overview
Online Sources ~ Print Sources ~ Regulation history
Agencies propose new regulations, open them for comment, and publish "Final Rules" in the Federal Register (FR).
Regulations (Final Rules) are compiled and codified (systematically organized) under "Titles" in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Regulations : Online Sources
- Proquest Regulatory InsightAccess to Regulations and regulatory histories.
Regulatory histories associated with a public law are compilations of Federal Register (FR) notices, proposed rules, and rules representing the complete rulemaking process associated with specific Public Laws. These histories are compiled by human researchers.
In addition to consulting the text of the Federal Register articles, researchers check such sources as the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the Public Law text, and, at times, the Parallel Table of Authorities and Rules. - Nexis Uni: RegulationsFrom the top banner, select "Sources."
- Federal Register, 1990 - .From the GPO (Government Printing Office) Federal Digital System (FDSys).
Use the Advanced Search page to find proposed rules and final rules published in the Federal Register.
Regulations : Print Sources
- Federal Register: 1936 - 2010
- Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): Latest edition, only
Note: Titles of the CFR are published every 5 years on a rotating basis.
Researching the History of a Regulation
- Proquest Regulatory InsightAccess to Regulations and regulatory histories.
Regulatory histories associated with a public law are compilations of Federal Register (FR) notices, proposed rules, and rules representing the complete rulemaking process associated with specific Public Laws. These histories are compiled by human researchers.
In addition to consulting the text of the Federal Register articles, researchers check such sources as the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the Public Law text, and, at times, the Parallel Table of Authorities and Rules.
Manual Steps to find the Supplementary Information on a Final Rule:
Agencies propose new regulations, open them for comment, and publish "Final Rules" in the Federal Register (FR).
Regulations (Final Rules) are compiled and codified (systematically organized) under "Titles" in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
1. Locate the regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
via Nexis Uni:
Select Menu > All Sources > Category: Administrative Codes and Regulations > Jurisdiction: U.S. Federal
via Hein Online (1938 - latest):
Scroll down to find the Federal Register Library.
Select the Advanced Search link.
Select the Code of Federal Regulations
2. Trace the footnote citations to the Federal Register/Final Rule.
3. In the Federal Register, look for the Supplementary Information published under the final rule.
This is where you will find a history of the legislation behind the regulation, and a summary of the comments that were made during the open comment period, along with the agency's response to those comments.
Federal Register via Hein Online 1936-2015)
Scroll down to find the Federal Register Library.
Select the Advanced Search link.
Select the Federal Register
4. If desired, use the footnote citation in the Federal Register to find the Statute that authorized the agency to propose/implement rules to meet the general requirements of the law.
Statutes at Large via Hein Online.
Scroll down the left-hand menu to find "United States Statutes-at-Large."