After a legislation is passed it up to bureaucrats to on how to best enact the legislation. This is works is typically done by executive agencies. One of the main ways that an agency can affect how a policy and legislation is enacted is through rules. Rules are published in the Federal Register, and enacted in the Code of Federal Regulations. The Federal Register is also the document in which presidential proclamations and orders are published. In addition, to setting the rules to regulate policies, executive agencies also create reports and collect data on policy areas.
Federal regulations are written by executive agencies to enforce the statutes passed by Congress. They have the force of law, and provide detailed instructions on how agencies intend to enforce laws. Rules that are proposed are up for debate while final rules have a vote before they are added to the Code of Federal Regulations.
New and proposed changes to regulations are published in the Federal Register, before they can be updated in the Code of Federal Regulations. Search for the name of your legislation by name or Public Law number to see and proposed or final rules. You can also see how a Law has changed the Code of Federal Regulations using Legislative Insight and Regulatory Insight using the guide below.
Federal agencies are bureaucratic institutions entrusted with the implementation, management, and administration of our law and public policy.
The best way to locate information from an agency is using their website. Try searching for the name of your legislation or public policy area on a relevant agency website.
Use the following exercises to learn more learning more about your policy area and legislation using the Federal Register and federal agencies.
