What are Regulations?
Although they are typically located within the administrative branch, many agencies have the authority to propose and implement regulations, which have the force and effect of law. The legislature must delegate this authority to agencies by passing an enabling act. The legislature passes enabling acts when it recognizes that an agency possesses specialized subject expertise that will allow the agency to more effectively delineate legal rights and responsibilities. The legislative body retains an oversight function to ensure the agency does not exceed the scope of its authority.
At the federal level, the Federal Register is the daily record of administrative activities, and contains the text of all proposed and final regulations. All final regulations that are currently in effect are arranged by subject in an annual publication called the Code of Federal Regulations.
Current Regulations
Regulations pertaining to copyright are located in Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Sources include:
- West’s Code of Federal Regulations Annotated: Title 37In print at Law Core Collection AE 2.106/3-4: 37.
- Code of Federal Regulations (HeinOnline) This link opens in a new windowProvides PDF versions of CFR from 1938 to present.
New and Proposed Regulations
New and proposed regulations:
- U.S. Copyright OfficeProvides an archive of U.S. Copyright Office announcements, rules, proposed rules, and other notices published in the Federal Register since 1993
- CCH Copyright Law Reporter
This link opens in a new window
Also available in print at Law Library KF2991.5 .C6 and in WestlawNext (law access only).
