Federal Register & Code of Federal Regulations

What Are the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations?

The Federal Register (FR) is the official daily journal of the United States government. It contains proposed rules, final rules, notices, and Presidential documents such as executive orders and proclamations. First published in 1936, the FR provides a transparent record of federal agency actions.

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a codified compilation of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register. Organized into 50 titles covering broad subject areas (e.g., Title 21 Food and Drugs, Title 40 Protection of Environment), the CFR is updated annually on a staggered schedule.

Why These Publications Matter

• Legal Authority: Federal agencies derive their regulatory power from statutes; the FR and CFR show how statutes are implemented.
• Public Participation: Proposed rules in the FR invite comment, allowing citizens to influence policy.
• Compliance: Businesses and NGOs use the CFR to determine applicable standards.
• Research & Scholarship: Historians, political scientists, and lawyers rely on these sources for primary evidence of governmental decisionmaking.

How to Access the Materials

Official Government Websites

• FederalRegister.gov Free, searchable database of every daily issue dating back to 1994; older PDFs are also available.
• GovInfo CFR Provides the current edition of each title with PDF and XML formats.
• Cornell Legal Information Institute (LII) Userfriendly, annotated view of the CFR, useful for quick reference.

Library & Commercial Databases

• Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Bloomberg Law Offer advanced search features, historical versions, and citation tools (often through university libraries).
• HeinOnline Provides PDF facsimiles of the Federal Register from 1994 onward and the entire historical CFR series.
• ProQuest Congressional Includes legislative history that often references FR notices.

Print Collections

Most law libraries retain bound volumes of the Federal Register (daily) and the CFR (annual). Microfiche collections may also be available for older material.

Effective Search Strategies

1. Define Your Scope

Determine whether you need:

• Proposed vs. final rules
• A specific agency (e.g., EPA, FDA)
• A date range (e.g., 19982003) or a particular CFR title/part

2. Use Advanced Search Fields

On FederalRegister.gov, the Advanced Search interface lets you combine:

• Keyword or phrase (with Boolean operators)
• Document type (Proposed Rule, Final Rule, Notice, Presidential Document)
• Agency name
• Date range
• Docket number (if known)

3. Exploit the CFR Structure

When searching the CFR, start with the appropriate Title (150). Within a title, locate the relevant Part. Most online sites provide a Table of Contents that links directly to each part.

4. Use Docket Numbers

Docket numbers (e.g., EPAR09OA0013) uniquely identify a rulemaking process. Entering a docket number on FederalRegister.gov retrieves every related document, including supporting analysis and public comments.

5. Leverage FullText PDFs

For citationheavy work, download the PDF version of the FR entry. PDFs preserve the original pagination, essential for accurate legal citations.

Citing the Federal Register & CFR

Follow the Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (most courts) or ALWD Guide to Legal Citation. Below are the core formats.

Federal Register

Format: Agency, Title, FR page number (date).

Example: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Announces Revised Lead Standards for Drinking Water, 84 Fed. Reg. 30,643 (May 15, 2019).

Code of Federal Regulations

Format: Title C.F.R. Part (Year).

Example: 29 C.F.R. 1910.1200 (2022).

When citing an online version, add the URL in a parenthetical after the citation, e.g., (https://www.federalregister.gov). Be sure to include the accessed date if required by your citation style.

Additional Resources & Help

• Reader Aids (FederalRegister.gov) Glossary of terms, guides on commenting, and FAQs.
• PDF Archive of Federal Register Direct links to historic daily issues.
• Law library reference desk Librarians can locate obscure docket numbers and assist with historical CFR editions.
• Agency Regulations.gov portals Many agencies host rulemaking dockets where you can read supporting documents, public comments, and agency responses.
• National Archives Holds the original paper copies of the Federal Register for the period 19361993.