This comprehensive legal resource organizes federal statutes by subject matter into 54 titles. Each title covers a broad area of legislation, such as Title 7 for Agriculture or Title 10 for Armed Forces. The Code is structured hierarchically, with titles divided into subtitles, chapters, subchapters, parts, subparts, and sections. This organization allows for easy navigation and reference of specific laws.
The United States Code is regularly updated to reflect new legislation passed by Congress. A new edition is published every six years, with annual cumulative supplements released to keep the content current between editions. This ensures that legal professionals, scholars, and the public have access to the most up-to-date version of federal laws.
One of the unique aspects of the United States Code is the distinction between positive law titles and non-positive law titles. Positive law titles are those that have been enacted into law by Congress as a title of the Code, while non-positive law titles are editorial compilations of statutes. This distinction affects the legal status of the Code's contents, with positive law titles serving as legal evidence of the law, while non-positive law titles are prima facie evidence.
The United States Code is widely used by legal professionals, government officials, and researchers as the authoritative source for federal statutory law. It plays a crucial role in the interpretation and application of federal laws by courts, agencies, and other entities involved in the legal system.
Key features of the United States Code include:
The United States Code serves as an essential tool for understanding and applying federal law, providing a structured and accessible format for the complex body of legislation that governs the United States.