NFPA Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE)Legal ResearchMedium
A paralegal is researching a complex federal administrative law issue for which there is conflicting guidance from different federal agencies. To understand the foundational statutory authority that grants these agencies their regulatory power, which primary source should the paralegal consult?
- ACode of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.)
- BFederal Register
- CUnited States Reports (U.S.)
- DUnited States Code (U.S.C.)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. United States Code (U.S.C.)
The United States Code (U.S.C.) contains the general and permanent laws of the United States, which includes the statutes that establish federal agencies and delegate their regulatory authority. To understand the foundational statutory authority, the U.S.C. is the appropriate primary source.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The C.F.R. contains regulations, which are created by agencies, but not the statutes that grant the agencies their authority.
- B. The Federal Register publishes proposed and final regulations, and agency notices, but not the underlying statutes that grant agency power.
- C. United States Reports contains U.S. Supreme Court opinions, which interpret statutes and regulations, but do not contain the statutes themselves.
United States Code (U.S.C.)
The official codification of the general and permanent federal statutes of the United States.
- Organized into 54 titles by subject matter.
- Contains the laws enacted by Congress.
- Primary source for federal statutory law.
Memory trick: Laws are 'USC' for all to see, while CFR is for agency rules, you see.