Administrative or regulatory law is comprised of the rules and regulations promulgated by administrative agencies. Each agency has a particular area of responsibility established by statute, meaning that their power is delegated by Congress. Pursuant to those directives, agencies promulgate regulations which specify how laws will be implemented and enforced.
There are two primary sources for federal administrative law. Federal rules and regulations are first published in the Federal Register. Then, upon being codified, they are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.).
| Publication/Material Type |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Federal Register
|
The Federal Register is the daily newspaper (published by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) of the federal government. It contains federal agency regulations, proposed rules and public notices, executive orders, proclamations, other presidential documents, and government news. Citation Example: Federal Acquisition Regulations for National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 55 Fed. Reg. 52,782 (Dec. 21, 1990)(to be codified at 48 C.F.R.pt.1). The number 50 refers to the volume, 52,782 is the first page on which the rule or regulation begins, and Dec. 21, 1990 is the date of the rule or regulation. If the Federal Register indicates where the rule or regulation will appear in the Code of Federal Regulations, indicate that information parenthetically. For more information, see Rule 14 of The Bluebook: "Administrative and Executive Materials." |
|
Code of Federal Regulations
|
The Code of Federal Regulations is a codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The C.F.R. is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to federal regulation. Updates to the CFR that occur between annual publications can be located using the List of CFR Sections Affected (LSA) AE 2.106/2: and the Federal Register. Citation Example: 7 C.F.R. § 319.16 (1999). The number 7 refers to the C.F.R. title number, 319.16 is the cited section number, and 1999 is the date of code edition cited. For more information, see Rule 14 of The Bluebook: "Administrative and Executive Materials." |
| Presidential and Executive Branch Materials |
All regulations issued by the Executive Office of the President and executive orders and proclamations are published in the Federal Register and Title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations. In addition, a daily publication of presidential documents appears in the the Compilation of Presidential Documents at FDsys. Presidential materials can also be found at www.whitehouse.gov, www.archives.gov (Public Papers of the President) and in Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. |
Where to Find Federal Administrative and Regulatory Laws
Administrative Law and Process in a Nutshell by
Offers a concise, knowledgeable guide to administrative law. The authors not only summarize the dominant statutes and case law in the area, but also discuss informal administrative processes and the background realities of the regulatory state.
Administrative Law in the Political System by
Explains the role of administrative law in shaping, guiding, and restricting the actions of administrative agencies.
Rulemaking by
Illustrates how US government agencies bypass the executive and legislative branches by making rules and the impact of that process.
Foundations of Administrative Law by 
Similarly to Federal Administrative law, Texas administrative law is comprised of the rules and regulations promulgated by Texas administrative agencies. These agencies are delegated power by the Texas State Legislature to act as agents for the executive and determine how Texas laws will be instituted and enforced. The agencies derive their power specifically from Title II, III, and IV of the Texas Government Code.
There are two primary sources for Texas administrative law. Texas rules and regulations are first published in the Texas Register. The Texas Register is a weekly publication which records state agency rule making and review actions, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, requests for proposals, and other miscellaneous documents. Then upon being codified, they are published in the Texas Administrative Code (Tex. Admin. Code).
| Publication | Description |
|---|---|
| Texas Register | The Texas Register is a weekly publication which records state agency rule making and review actions, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, requests for proposals, and other miscellaneous documents. The Texas register serves a journal of state agency rulemaking in Texas. |
| Texas Administrative Code |
The Texas Register is the codification of all the state agency rules in Texas. There are sixteen titles. There are gaps in teh numbering of the titles. The tittles are as follows:
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Where to Find Texas Administrative and Regulatory Laws
1.) Texas Register: Online only at
2.) Texas Administrative Code:
or
The Guide to Texas State Agencies by 1.) The primary database for administrative law research in other states through Westlaw.
2.) Another source for state administrative law is the websites of state agencies and state legislatures. These typically provide links to administrative codes and regulatory material as well as other resources. In addition, Secretary of State websites often provide regulatory and administrate documents as well.
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