Steps In Using the Code of Federal Regulations
                                                                                  Prepared by Frank Houdek — Spring 2013
                 DESCRIPTION OF STEP                                      Print                                      Fdsys / e-CFR                                Westlaw / LexisNexis
                                                                                  STEP 1: Identify Pertinent Regulations 
           Use “index” approach to identify            Use “CFR Index” in CFR Index and                FDsys    From “Search Government                WSubject search in U.S. Fed. Materials º
           CFR sections by subject; the name of        Finding Aids volume at end of set                        Publications” on main page, use           Admin. Rules & Regs º CFR-Current
           appropriate agency is often a useful                                                                 “advanced search” function, select        Version 
           search term                                 Use West’s Code of Federal Regulations                   CFR from list of “Available               OR “RegulationsPlus Index”
                                                       General Index [KF70.A34 W4]                              Collections”                           L Subject search in Fed. Legal-U.S. º
                                                                                                       e-CFR      Use “simple” or “advanced”              CFR
                                                                                                                  search pages
           Use “outline” approach to identify          Use “List of CFR Titles, Chapters,              FDsys    Click on “Browse Government            WGo to CFR database º click “Table of
           CFR sections by subject                     Subchapters and Parts” in CFR Index and                  Publications,” select CFR, then           Contents” tab º select title (s) º select
                                                       Finding Aids volume at end of set                        select edition of CFR to search º         chapter or part º continue to relevant
                                                                                                                select title (s) º select chapter or      §§
                                                                                                                part º continue to relevant §§         L Go to Federal Legal-U.S. º CFR; click
                                                                                                       e-CFR      Use “Browse” page                       + to expand levels until you find
                                                                                                                                                          relevant §§
           Use “enabling statute” as access            Use “Parallel Table of Authorities and          Use electronic version of “Parallel Table of    WIn CFR database, use “Credit” (CR)
           point to identify CFR sections              Rules” in CFR Index and Finding Aids            Authorities and Rules,” available at               field to search for USC § OR use
           promulgated under its authority             volume at end of set                            www.gpo.gov/help/parallel_table.txt                “Links For” tab for admin. regs.
                                                                                                       [link under “Related Resources” on left         L In CFR database, use “Authority”
                                                                                                       panel of FDsys CFR page]                           segment to search for USC §
                                                                              STEP 2: Retrieve Text of Pertinent Regulations
           Locate and read CFR section(s)              Using most current edition of CFR               • have to review section by section             W•Use Table of Contents link to get
           identified in Step 1                        available, go to title and section number(s)    • the FR source(s) are listed at end of §; for     regulatory scheme OR use
           • review other §§ in regulatory scheme      • review surrounding sections                     FR from 1995–present, can use “Retrieve          “next/previous section” functionality
             for relevance                             • go to FR listed as source, review               an FR Page” function; for earlier FR             •Use “Source” link to get to FR
           • may review “source” (FR) where reg.         comments made by issuing agency at              cites, must use print or other source for     L •Use TOC view or “Book Browse”
             originally published                        time reg. was promulgated                       FR                                               •Use “History” to get to FR link
                                                                                   STEP 3: Update Pertinent Regulations
           Determine whether regulation(s) has         • Consult most current LSA: List of CFR         e-CFR fully up-to-date                          WUse “History” KeyCite link (red flag)
           been amended since last published in          Sections Affected (pub. monthly) under        FDSys Click on “Browse Government                  on left frame to display any changes
           CFR                                           title & section of regulation(s)                       Publications” link  º Click on            after “current through” date
                                                       • Consult “Cumulative List of CFR Parts                  “List of CRF Sections Affected”        L Search FR source for the CFR citation,
                                                         Affected” in last Federal Register issue               link º Select most recent year and        restricting to period after “current
                                                         of each month not covered by latest LSA                month of LSA available after date         through” date
                                                                                                                of CFR º Select title º browse
                                                                                                                for § you are updating