The Law Library's diverse microform collection exceeds 250,000 (paper) volume equivalents, and includes legal materials, government documents, and some unique sets.
Introduction
The Code of Federal Regulations is a subject compilation of rules and regulations issued by Federal executive agencies which are in force as of the date of publication of the code volume. Volumes in the Code of Federal Regulations are updated annually. The Code has been published since 1939 (covering regulations issued in 1938). The Federal Register updates Code volumes between annual updates.
The Law Library receives the Code of Federal Regulations and the Federal Register through the U.S. Depository Library program. Paper editions of the code are retained until a microfiche edition of that year's code is received. Title 3 of the Code contains presidential materials. The Law Library retains all copies of this volume in paper and microform. A microform collection of the Code of Federal Regulations from 1938- is available in the Law Library. Microform is shelved under US 005 A3 and is filed by year and title number.
Organization of the Code of Federal Regulations
Volumes of the Code are divided into titles. There are 50 titles in the Code. Each of the titles contains rules and regulations relating to a specific subject area. Each title is divided into sections. This arrangement allows individual agency rules and regulations to appear together in the Code. Citations to code sections will appear as follows:
Example: 7 C.F.R. $ 319.76 (1999)
7 = Title (subject area = agriculture)
C.F.R. = Code of Federal Regulations
319.76 = Section number
1999 = date of code edition
How to Locate Rules and Regulations of Interest
The following sources can be used to locate rules and regulations:
Introduction
New York State Legislative Bill and Veto Jackets are compiled by the Governor's office before the Governor signs or vetoes a piece of legislation (a bill). Contents of each bill jacket vary, but usually include a copy of the bill with its various amendments and the legislative sponsor's memorandum. In addition, the bill jacket may contain reports and letters from various government departments affected by the legislation. Letters from standing or joint legislative committees that have studied the legislation, and from bar associations, lobbyists, and private citizens are often included in the bill jacket. A separate collection called Veto Jackets is compiled for bills that the Governor vetoes. Researchers often use the bill jackets as a source of legislative history for New York bills. The Law Library has bill and veto jackets from 1905, 1921- . Current bill and veto jackets are available from the Governor's Counsel Office at 518-474-7812.
How to Find Bill Jackets in the Law Library
Bills introduced into the New York State Assembly and/or Senate are given a sequential number. This number is referred to as the bill number. If the bill passes both the Assembly and Senate and is signed by the Governor, it becomes known as a Chapter Law. Bill jackets are located in the Law Library. They are filed by year and chapter law number. For this reason, it is necessary to know the chapter number of the bill being researched.
The following sources may be consulted to determine chapter law numbers.
Volumes are arranged by year. Select the correct year and look for tables entitled, "Cross Reference Table of Laws". One table is for Senate bills and one is for Assembly bills.
Determine where the provisions of the chapter law have been placed in the Code of New York. Look at the history table provided after the code section. Year and chapter number will be provided. (Example: L.1986, c. 14 = laws of 1986, chapter law 14)
Determine where the provisions of the chapter law have been placed in the Code of New York. Look at the history table provided after the code section. Year and chapter number will be provided. (Example: L.1986, c.14 = laws of 1986, chapter law 14)
Veto jackets for bills that passed the Assembly and Senate but were vetoed by the Governor are shelved by year and veto number. To locate veto number, use the State of New York Legislative Digest, Select the correct year and look for table entitled, "Bills vetoed by the Governor".
Introduction
A bill passed by the New York State Assembly and Senate and signed by the governor is issued as a slip law. Slip laws in New York State are called chapter laws. Chapter laws contain the text of the law as it was signed by the Governor. Because chapter laws are bound in chronological order by date of the Governor's signature, they are not arranged by subject. Subject access to New York State laws is available by using either McKinneys Consolidated Code of New York, or Consolidated Laws Service.
If one is researching by subject area, the best approach is to use either McKinneys or Consolidated Laws Service. Both of these sources are arranged by subject and contain the law in effect as of the date of publication of the volume. The historical notes at the end of the relevant code section will provide a list of chapter laws that created and/or modified the text of the law. An advance legislative service provides access to newly enacted chapter laws between revisions of these sets.
If you are trying to determine the legislative intent behind the passage of a chapter law, please check the following guide: New York Bill Jackets.
Chapter laws for New York State are available in print, online and on microform. A citation to a chapter law follows:
2005 N.Y. Laws 54
Sources of Chapter Laws
The text of chapter laws can be found in the following sources:
Online Source for New York Chapter Laws
Introduction
The Law Library maintains a collection of United Nations publications as this organization has the responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the promotion of human rights and the development of international law. United Nations publications include official records of the deliberative organs, resolutions, and summary records of committee meetings.
The Law Library also receives copies of reports of United Nations sponsored activities.
Organization of the Microform Collection
U.N. publications received in paper format are cataloged for the Law Library collection and included in the Libraries' Catalog. Materials in the microform collections are shelved by United Nations classification numbers. The number assigned to a document includes the organ responsible for issuing the document, the type of document and a unique identifier.
Example: A/C.4/55/SR.2
A=General Assembly
C.4=4th Committee (Special Political and Decolonization Committee)
55= 55th Session
SR=Summary Record (type of publication)
2 = Sequential number
Several collections of U.N. documents are available in microform format in the Law Library. Please see the reference desk if you need assistance with this collection. These sets include:
How to Locate Documents of Interest
The following sources index United Nations documents:
General Indexes
Series B: Country
1972-1978
Ref Z 6481 .U179
Series C: List of Documents Issued
Jan. 1979
Ref Z 6481 .U185
Index to Proceedings
Circulation: 716-645-6765
Fax: 716-645-3860
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