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Federal Regulations

Regulations are a form of delegated legislation. Agencies are delegated power by Congress (or in the case of a state agency, the state legislature) to act as agents for the executive. For example, the main statute protecting the health and safety of workers in the workplace is the Occupational and Safety Health Act (OSHA). Congress, by enacting legislation, gives federal agencies power to make rules and guidelines to carry out the laws. OSHA requires the Secretary of Labor to promulgate regulations and safety and health standards to protect employees and their families. Regulations (also known as "rules") are legally binding and can be enforced as statutes. Publication of regulations provides notice of the contents of the provisions and opportunity to comment.

For an overview by topic, see: Law About... via Cornell's Legal Information Institute

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Federal register (1936 to present)

The Federal Register (FR) is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents. Arrangement is by agency, not by subject matter. The usual rule making process includes publication of a notice of intent, proposed rules, requests for comments, and final rules. Also included are explanations of the rule makers' intent, including summaries of comments received and how those comments affected the regulations. See also: The Federal Register: What It Is and How to Use It. Also available in print: GREF J10.A15 guide 1992.

  • Holdings in UCB Library:
    • J10.A15 Main [v.1(1936)-15(1950)]
    • Microfilm 1345J [v.16(1951)-v.45(1980)]
    • Microfiche 4604 [v.46(1981)to present]

grey ball Code of Federal Regulations (1936 to present)

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register (FR) by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

The CFR is divided into 50 titles which represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Each title is divided into chapters which usually bear the name of the issuing agency. Each chapter is further subdivided into parts covering specific regulatory areas. Large parts may be subdivided into subparts. All parts are organized in sections, and most citations to the CFR will be provided at the section level.

The entire set is revised annually. However, the revision process is accomplished on a quarterly basis, with a different range of titles revised each quarter. The revision schedule is as follows:

  • Titles 1-16 are current as of January 1 of the cover year;
  • Titles 17-27 are current as of April 1;
  • Titles 28-41 are current as of July 1;
  • Titles 42-50 are current as of October 1.

  • Holdings in UCB Library:
    • GREF JK630.A4 1949 (latest edition of each title, all of Title 3)
    • Current and Historical CFRs available in the Law Library.

grey ball Code of Federal regulations. List of CFR sections affected ... containing a compilation of the list of CFR sections affected of the Code of Federal regulations for the period ... (1949/1963 to present)

LSA is the monthly reference to Federal Register pages containing new and amended regulations published since any CFR volume was last reprinted. For the latest changes to any CFR section, also check the "CFR Parts Affected" in the Reader Aids section in the back of the latest Federal Register issue for each month since the publication of the LSA.

  • Holdings in UCB Library:
    • GREF JK630.A43 (1949/1963-March 2000)
    • Current and Historical LSAs available in the Law Library.

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grey ball Other Regulations Resources

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grey ball Agencies Guides

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grey ball Tips for Tracking Regulatory Authority

  • From the LAW to the CFR:
      Use the index volume of the CFR, labeled "CFR Index and Finding Aids." The "Parallel Table of Authorities and Rules" gives the following cross-references:

      • United States Code (USC) to CFR
      • Statutes at Large (Stat.) to CFR
      • Public Law (PL) to CFR
      • Presidential Documents to CFR
  • From the CFR to the LAW:
      In the table of contents to the subparts of each CFR title you will find the following citations:

        Authority: Gives Statutes at Large, United States Code, and Public Law citations for enabling legislation. Source: Federal Register volume, page and date.
  • FEDERAL REGISTER to the CFR:
      Each rule and proposed rule in the Federal Register gives CFR citation.
  • CFR to the FEDERAL REGISTER:
      CFR sections will give a reference to the Federal Register.

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