Federal Statutes
When citing to the United States Code, first find your statute on Westlaw or Lexis and determine date(s) for any amendments. Main editions of the U.S.C are published every six years with annual cumulative supplements published in between editions. If your statute was amended after the last published Supplement, cite to the United States Code Annotated, Westlaw or Lexis because the U.S.C. is not up to date. Note that because U.S.C. supplements are cumulative, you only need to look in the latest Supplement.
Federal Regulations
State Statutes
State statue source gathering check list (including superseded):
1. The Library these states' statutes in print - NY, NJ, and CA. If you are looking for one of these states go to the state room (call numbers begin with KFC - KFT) or ask for help in finding this location. NY statutes are in the reading room (black "McKinney's" volumes).
2. If you state is not in Step 1, then check the Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act (UELMA - link below). The UELMA creates standards for authenticating and preserving digital legal documents, such as official statutes, codes, regulations and decisions – the state you are looking for may have adopted the UELMA. If the state adopted UELMA, go to the state's website.
3. For the remaining states (not in print in the Library and has not adopted the UELMA), go to either Lexis, Westlaw, or the state’s website. Check with your editors for your journal's policy on this.
4. For superseded statues of all states, check Discovery for the microfiche cabinet/Lextriever location for the state you are looking for (if we have the year).
5. Except in very extraordinary circumstance, we will NOT ILL any state statutes for the journals.
State Regulations