From the Law Library

Federal Administrative Law: Beyond the CFR

The June 2008 issue of Capital eBriefs “From the Law Library” discussed resources for researching federal administrative law. The Obama administration has embraced posting government information on the internet, making it easier to locate administrative decisions and find forms and agency manuals.

Usa.gov (http://www.usa.gov) is a “one stop” government site which gathers federal, state and territory sites by subject. Under “Government Information by Topic” choose Reference and General Government and click on Laws and Regulations (http://www.usa.gov/Topics?Reference_Shelf/Laws.shtml) to access federal regulatory links. The Regulatory Information Service Center – REGINFO (http://www.reginfo.gov) collects all of the sites needed for federal regulatory research, from the e-CFR (http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov) to Business.gov (http://www.business.gov), the official business link to the U.S. government. The RegMap (http://www.reginfo.gov/public/reginfo/Regmap/index.jsp) charts the regulatory process via a flow chart format. The entire map may be downloaded in PDF format or individual steps in the process may be viewed. Citations to authorizing U.S. Code sections or Executive Orders are also included.

The most recent federal agency forma are much easier to locate using Forms.gov (http://www.forms.gov). Forms may be searched by keyword, agency or form name. Choose an agency to see a list of available forms with form number. Each entry notes if the form includes both form and instructions or the form only. Forms may also be located by visiting the web site of the agency.

Comprehensive lists of federal agencies are available on the internet. Washburn University School of Law Federal Agencies (http://www.washlaw.edu/doclaw/executive5m.html) lists agencies alphabetically by name. Click on the agency name to view a list of links for that agency. Links under the agency name include the agency’s homepage, publications, forms and directories. Decisions are included for agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and Social Security Administration.

The most complete list of sites for agency decisions is compiled by the University of Virginia Library. Administrative Decisions & Other Actions by Agency (http://www.lib.virginia.edu/govdocs/fed_decisions_agency.html) lists the administrative agency and its subdivisions. Many of the links to the decisions, reports, manuals and directives of the subdivisions are annotated with the span of years available through the internet. Administrative Decisions & Other Actions is available by subject also (http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/govtinfo/fed_decisions_subject.html).

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