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Guide to Law Online: U.S. Federal

This guide, prepared by the Law Library of Congress, includes links to free online legal resources regarding the United States of America, focusing on its constitution; executive, legislative, and judicial branches; legal guides; and general sources.

Introduction

United States Central Intelligence Agency, contributor. [United States-including cities and administrative divisions] 4-75. 1975. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.

The Guide to Law Online is an annotated collection of links to free online legal materials and pertinent resources in the Library of Congress catalog, organized by jurisdiction. This guide is not meant to be an exhaustive list of resources, but it covers all relevant research areas for each jurisdiction. Each Guide to Law Online jurisdictional guide is divided into the following areas:

This Guide to Law Online research guide focuses on the United States. In compiling this research guide, emphasis has been placed on sites offering the full texts of laws, regulations, and court decisions, along with commentary from lawyers writing primarily for other lawyers. Materials related to law and government that were written by or for lay persons also have been included, as have government sites providing general information. Although this research guide is selective, inclusion of a site or resource does not constitute endorsement by the Law Library of Congress.

If researchers have information identifying any online sources not yet included, as well as comments on errors or changes in addresses, conditions, or contents that warrant changes in the descriptions of these jurisdictional guides, please submit suggestions via the Law Library's Ask a Librarian form. The editors of the guide are grateful for your feedback.

About the Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress contains the world’s largest collection of law books and legal resources. It is a repository for the complete record of American law and holds foreign law materials covering all major national, state, and equivalent jurisdictions. In 1832, the Law Library was officially established to provide the United States Congress and Supreme Court with access to current and accurate legal research materials. Over time, our mission was expanded to include other branches of the U.S. Government, the public, and the global legal community. This evolving mission is supported by a collection of around three million volumes and brings together the expertise of approximately 100 lawyers, librarians, other professionals, and support staff who provide legal reference, research, and analysis using the Law Library’s collection. We also draw upon the collections and expertise of our colleagues throughout the Library of Congress.