NFPA Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE)Legal ResearchMedium
A paralegal is researching the current status of a federal regulation that was recently proposed and then finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To ensure the paralegal is viewing the most up-to-date version of the regulation and any amendments, which resource should be primarily consulted?
- AUnited States Code (U.S.C.)
- BFederal Register
- CCode of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.)
- DU.S. Reports
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.)
The Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government. It is the primary source for current federal regulations.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The United States Code contains federal statutes, not regulations.
- B. The Federal Register publishes proposed and final rules daily, but the C.F.R. is the codified, organized, and current version of those rules.
- D. U.S. Reports contains opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court, not federal regulations.
Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.)
The codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government.
- Organized by subject matter into titles and chapters.
- Updated annually, with daily updates in the Federal Register.
- Primary source for current federal regulations.
Memory trick: Regulations are 'CFR' to ensure they're current and clear.