Guides: Summer Clerks Research Guide: Federal Agencies

Is it Administrative Law?

Ask yourself: is an agency involved?

Hints that administrative law may be part of your research:

There is a statute involved
The topic is highly-regulated (e.g., food, banking, telecommunications)
There is a Board, Commission, Department, Bureau, or Office involved
There are adversarial hearings, but not in a traditional court

Consult a Treatise

If you think you might be dealing with administrative law, consult a treatise or agency manual to confirm your hunch:

United States Government Manual - GPO Online
The official handbook of the Federal Government. Has comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also includes information on quasi-official agencies; international organizations in which the United States participates; and boards, commissions, and committees.
Sourcebook of US Executive Agencies (PDF)
Describes and analyzes agencies. Prepared by the Administrative Conference of the United States.

Federal Regulatory Directory by Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
Call Number: KF5406.A1 F293
LRC Reading Room: Brief profiles of federal regulatory bodies, including history and organization.
(Note: Print subscription cancelled July 2006.)

Review your chosen agency's website for links to primary law.

Research usually involves the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) - the current code.

Consult a Research Guide

If you're not finding what you need, consult a guide to Administrative Law Research.

USD Legal Research Center - Federal Administrative Law Research Guide (PDF)
Printable guide to locating and updating regulations, agency decisions, and executive orders, using the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) and Federal Register in print and the Federal Register online.

Looseleafs and Other Guidance

Some highly-regulated practice areas have specialized resources bringing together primary and secondary sources. Some are in Bloomberg Law's "Practice Centers."

Bloomberg Law
Practice Centers include Antitrust, Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy, Corporate/M&A, Employee Benefits, Health, IP, Labor & Employment, Securities, and Tax.