Legislative bodies have the power to make laws, which are called statutes (at the municipal level, they are called ordinances).

\r\n

The laws made by Congress are either public or private. If they are public, they are made in reference to the general public. If they are private, they deal with groups of individuals, or even with a single individual.

\r\n

When laws are made, they are published by the government in pamphlet format, known as slip law. At the end of each Congressional session, these laws are published in a book called the Statutes at Large.

\r\n

Because the Statutes at Large are difficult to research, the laws are organized by subject matter and published in federal codes.

\r\n

State statutory law is enacted by state legislatures. These laws are also published in state codes.

\r\n

Local ordinances are passed by municipal bodies.

Primary Sources for Legal Research