Resources

Resources; Manuals; Etc.

There is no better place to start than within the library of the Government himself:

Hosted by the U.S.Department of Justice Offices of the United States Attorneys: This is the current and official copy of the United States Attorneys' Manual (USAM). The USAM was comprehensively revised in 1997. Changes or additions since 1997 are noted at the end of affected sections.

Federal Practice Manual

(For Legal Aid Attorneys) Hosted by the Shriver Center, this is a helpful manual written in sections which coincide with the rules of procedure to some degree.

US CODE

United States Code hosted by the US Government Printing Office.

CODE FEDERAL REGULATIONS

Code Federal Regulations hosted by the US Government Printing Office. "How the law is to be implemented."

US STATUTES AT LARGE

The United States Statutes at Large, typically referred to as the Statutes at Large, is the permanent collection of all laws and resolutions enacted during each session of Congress. Under the provisions of 1 U.S.C. 112, the printed edition of the Statutes at Large is legal evidence of the laws...

F.R.C.P.

FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE hosted at Cornell University Law School

F.R.Crim.P.

Federal Rules Criminal Procedure hosted at Cornell University Law School

F.R.E.

Federal Rules of Evidence hosted at Cornell University Law School

USC means United States Code; CFR means Code of Federal Regulations

These citations* are shorthand for the laws and regulations that explain in precise terms what is needed in order for the Federal government to do business. Each is a citation which refers to a particular section of the law or its implementing regulations.

The Code of Federal Regulations is written to explain in detail how the laws are to be carried out. When a law is written, it usually does not explain in great detail what procedures are to be followed, nor does it include descriptions of the special situations which can arise. This is the job of the regulations, which govern the day-to-day business of the Federal government.

Regulations are written by the government agencies responsible for the subject matter of the laws.

Below are diagrams explaining how to read these notations:

(Information taken from: http://www.uspto.gov/main/glossary/lawsandrules.htm)