Government Documents Index |
American Indians: Legal and Regulatory Sources
HSSE Library has many publications containing laws and regulations relevant to American Indians. This guide will discuss federal laws, regulations, and court cases.
Federal Laws
Slip Laws HSSE DOC REF AE 2.110:
Contain the text of laws upon congressional passage and presidential signature. Arranged in numerical order by the congressional session in which they are passed e.g. Public Law 105-16 is the 16th public law by
the 105th session of the U.S. Congress which meets in 1997-1998. Slip law entries contain legislative history information.
U.S. Statutes at Large HSSE REF 345.11 Un3 & here 1789-1875
Features slip laws in hardbound volumes. Laws are arranged in numerical order by congressional session and contain legislative history information.
U.S. Code HSSE REF 345 Un3co
Final cumulation of U.S. legal activity. New editions published every six years with annual updates. (2000 is the most recent cumulation.) Divided into fifty titles or subject areas. Many laws covering American Indians are in Title 25. A sample U.S. Code citation covering an aspect of American law reads like this: 25 USC 506 . This citation covers laws affecting Oklahoma Indians and can be found in Title
25 section 506 of the U.S. Code. U.S. Code entries also feature cross references to previous statutes on the topic being examined.
U.S. Code Annotated HSSE REF 345 Un3coa
Contains the same data as the U.S. Code along with commentary and references to court cases on individual laws.
Federal Regulations
Upon congressional passage and presidential signing, federal agencies are responsible for drafting regulations to enforce newly enacted laws. Three publications contain the contents of federal regulatory activity.
Federal Register HSSE REF 353.005 Un34 & HSSE MF
Published five times a week, this publication lists proposed and actual federal regulations. Entries will feature the text of proposed and actual regulations along with supplemental data such as charts, diagrams, etc. Entries will also feature the name, address, phone number, fax, and, sometimes, the email address of a contact person from the agency administering these regulation(s). Individuals and organizations can comment on proposed regulations to these officials.
See Federal Register: What It Is and How to Use It HSSE DOC REF AE 2.108:F 31/992 for a more detailed description.
Index to the Code of Federal Regulations HSSE REF 353.005 C64 Index
Code of Federal Regulations HSSE REF 353.005 C64
The main cumulation of all federal regulatory activity. This annually updated publication is divided into fifty different titles or subject areas. Many regulations dealing with American Indians can be found in Title 25. A sample Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) citation looks like this: 25 CFR 211 .This refers to Title 25 Part 211 of the Code of Federal Regulations and contains regulations on the leasing of tribal lands for mineral development. Regulations covering the Indian Health Service are in Title 42 of the CFR, Indian Housing in Title 24, and Indian Lands in Title 25. Check the index listed above for more detailed citations.
List of Sections Affected (LSA) HSSE REF 353.005 C64LSA
This monthly publication updates changes in the Code of Federal Regulations since publication of the annual CFR volumes with cross-references to recent Federal Register issues. References are to CFR citation number. For instance, if you want to look for updates in regulatory activity on mineral resource development tribal leasing you'll need to look under 25 CFR 211 and its subparts in Lists of Sections Affected and then refer to Federal Register entries which may be listed in LSA.
Note: Recent federal laws and regulations can be found on the Internet via GPO Access at www.gpoaccess.gov/
Court Cases
HSSE Library also features various court opinions. Some of these include:
U.S. Reports HSSE DOC JU 6.8:
Complete text of U.S. Supreme Court opinions. Opinions come out in slip format then cumulate into paper and hardbound volumes. HSSE has these from 1985 to present and URGL STOR has them from 1974-1984. Recent Supreme Court opinions can be found on
the Supreme Court's website
Interior Dept. Board of Indian Appeals Decisions
Lawyer's Guide to U.S. Supreme Court Reports HSSE REF 345.4 Un37r
Features excerpts from U.S. Supreme Court opinions. Coverage goes back to 1789.
Federal Reporter HSSE 348.7341 F317r
Federal Supplement HSSE 348.7341 F317s
Opinions from selected federal court cases. For instance, a citation which reads 245 F2ed 145 means the opinion for that particular case begins in volume 245, p. 145 of the second series of the Federal Reporter.
Northeastern Reporter HSSE 348.73423 N811
Federal court opinions from Indiana and neighboring states.
American Jurisprudence HSSE REF 347.9 Am3a2
Multivolume legal encyclopedia featuring references to various court cases. Updated with annual pocket parts at the end of each volume.
Lexis Nexis Academic (Purdue users only) www.lexis-nexis.com/universe
Features links to a wide variety of federal and state court cases.
Legal Reference Sources
| Black's Law Dictionary | HSSE REF 347.03 B56l 1990 |
| Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations Used in American Law Books | HSSE REF DESK 349.730148 B475d 1985 |
| Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory | HSSE REF 437.05 M36 |
| Index to Legal Periodicals | HSSE REF 016.34 In2 |