Legislative Research Process

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• Unlike case law, which covers decisions made by the courts, statute law covers legislation enacted by Congress at the federal level and individual state legislatures at a more local level. 
• Some topics are under the jurisdiction of the federal government and some are specifically under state control.
• Regulations are developed by the individual agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of a law.

• Most federal legislation is available electronically.
• Older Congressional hearings and reports, and other older legislation may not be available electronically - you may need to use print sources.
• Allow yourself plenty of research time--legislative research is a complex process