United States Code: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:06, 18 February 2025

Codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States

The United States Code (U.S.C.) is the official compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal statutes of the United States. It contains 54 titles and is published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the United States House of Representatives.

History[edit]

The need for a comprehensive codification of federal statutes was recognized in the early 20th century. Prior to the creation of the United States Code, federal statutes were published in the form of individual "slip laws" and later compiled into the Statutes at Large. The first edition of the United States Code was published in 1926.

Structure[edit]

The United States Code is divided into titles based on subject matter. Each title is further divided into sections. The Code is updated periodically to incorporate new laws and amendments. The official version is published every six years, with annual cumulative supplements.

Legal status[edit]

The United States Code is not a legal document in itself but a compilation of the laws. The Statutes at Large remain the official legal authority. However, the Code is recognized as prima facie evidence of the laws of the United States.

Publication and updates[edit]

The Office of the Law Revision Counsel is responsible for preparing and publishing the United States Code. The Code is available in both print and electronic formats. The electronic version is updated more frequently and is accessible online.

Related pages[edit]

References[edit]

"United States Code." Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. Accessed October 2023.
"About the United States Code." Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. Accessed October 2023.

Great Seal of the United States
United States Code 2012 Official Edition
United States Code Title 11

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''United States Code'''
+{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
+{{Short description|Codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States}}
-The '''United States Code''' (USC) is the codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the [[United States]]. It is divided into 53 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. The organization of the Code was originally established by the House of Representatives in 1926 and has been updated periodically since. Each title in the USC is updated once a year if the law has changed. The official text of an Act of Congress is that of the "enrolled bill" (traditionally printed on parchment) presented to the President for his signature or disapproval. Upon enactment of a law, the original bill is transferred to the Archivist of the United States, after which the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) prepares a slip law, which is the official publication of the law and is sequentially numbered by Congress. Public laws are then reorganized by subject matter in the United States Code.
+[[File:Great Seal of the United States (obverse).svg|thumb|right|The Great Seal of the United States]]
+[[File:United States Code 2012 Official Edition.jpg|thumb|right|The 2012 official edition of the United States Code]]
+[[File:Uscatitle11.jpg|thumb|right|Title 11 of the United States Code]]
+The '''United States Code''' ('''U.S.C.''') is the official compilation and codification of the general and permanent [[federal statutes]] of the [[United States]]. It contains 54 titles and is published by the [[Office of the Law Revision Counsel]] of the [[United States House of Representatives]].
+==History==
+The need for a comprehensive codification of federal statutes was recognized in the early 20th century. Prior to the creation of the United States Code, federal statutes were published in the form of individual "slip laws" and later compiled into the [[Statutes at Large]]. The first edition of the United States Code was published in 1926.
 ==Structure==
-The USC is divided into titles based on subject matter. Each title is subdivided into chapters, which in turn are divided into sections. Sections are the basic unit of the code. For example, [[Title 18 of the United States Code]] covers crimes and criminal procedure. This title contains numerous sections, such as Section 111 regarding assault on a federal officer. The titles vary in length and subject matter, from [[Title 1 of the United States Code|Title 1]] (General Provisions) to [[Title 53 of the United States Code|Title 53]] (Small Business).
+The United States Code is divided into titles based on subject matter. Each title is further divided into sections. The Code is updated periodically to incorporate new laws and amendments. The official version is published every six years, with annual cumulative supplements.
-==Publication==
-The [[Office of the Law Revision Counsel]] of the United States House of Representatives is tasked with maintaining and publishing the Code. The Code is published every six years with annual cumulative supplements that detail changes made in the interim. The official version of the Code is available in print and, more recently, online through various legal and governmental platforms.
-==Legal Status==
+==Legal status==
-The United States Code, while an important legal document, does not include every statute passed by Congress. It omits private laws, temporary provisions, and laws deemed obsolete or superseded. The legal status of the Code is somewhat complex. While the Code itself does not have the force of law in cases where the statute it is based on has been amended or repealed, the courts generally use the Code as a reliable evidence of laws in force.
+The United States Code is not a legal document in itself but a compilation of the laws. The [[Statutes at Large]] remain the official legal authority. However, the Code is recognized as prima facie evidence of the laws of the United States.
-==Usage==
+==Publication and updates==
-The USC is used by lawyers, judges, and others in the legal profession to locate federal statutes. It is also a valuable tool for researchers, scholars, and students who seek to understand federal statutory law. The USC's organization and indexing make it easier to find relevant statutes than sifting through individual session laws.
+The Office of the Law Revision Counsel is responsible for preparing and publishing the United States Code. The Code is available in both print and electronic formats. The electronic version is updated more frequently and is accessible online.
-==Amendments==
+==Related pages==
-Amendments to the laws within the United States Code are made by subsequent acts of Congress. New laws can add to, modify, or repeal existing laws. The process of integrating these changes into the existing framework of the Code can be complex, requiring careful editorial work to ensure that the Code remains an accurate and up-to-date reflection of current law.
+* [[Statutes at Large]]
+* [[Code of Federal Regulations]]
+* [[Federal Register]]
-==Criticism and Challenges==
+==References==
-The main challenge in maintaining the USC is ensuring that it accurately reflects current law, given the volume of legislation passed by Congress and the complexity of the laws themselves. Critics also point to the difficulty of navigating the Code for those without legal training, although online access and search capabilities have made it more accessible to the general public.
+* "United States Code." Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. Accessed October 2023.
+* "About the United States Code." Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. Accessed October 2023.
-[[Category:United States federal legislation]]
+[[Category:United States federal law]]
-[[Category:Legal documents]]
+[[Category:Legal codes]]
-[[Category:United States law]]
+<gallery>
+File:Great_Seal_of_the_United_States_(obverse).svg|Great Seal of the United States
+File:United_States_Code_2012_Official_Edition.jpg|United States Code 2012 Official Edition
+File:Uscatitle11.jpg|United States Code Title 11
+</gallery>