Legal Definitions: A Research Guide for Congressional Staff (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Oct. 10, 2024 |
| Report Number |
R48024 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Calvin Gibson |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
This report is designed to introduce congressional staff to examples of legal and nonlegal
sources, including statutes, legislation, and dictionaries, for researching legal definitions. It
includes governmental sources, such as the United States Code (U.S. Code), the Code of Federal
Regulations (C.F.R.), and congressional legislation. Proprietary information sources are also
included.
In addition to carrying their conventional meanings, terms can be defined and expanded upon
by legislatures, federal agencies, judiciaries, and legal and nonlegal dictionaries. There are
several approaches to finding legal definitions and a variety of sources from which to choose;
however, some sources are more authoritative than others, depending on the nature of research.
Members and congressional staff can consult with attorneys and analysts at the Congressional
Research Service (CRS) to determine whether the executive or judicial branches have defined or
interpreted particular terms used in federal statutes, as well as bills or other legislation.
