Legal Definitions - R.S.

R.S. stands for Revised Statutes.

Revised Statutes refer to a comprehensive and systematically organized compilation of a jurisdiction's general and permanent laws. These compilations are often officially enacted by the legislature and serve to consolidate, clarify, and update the existing body of statutory law. The goal is to make the vast collection of laws more accessible and understandable for legal professionals, government officials, and the public by arranging them by subject matter, rather than in the chronological order in which they were originally passed.

• Example of a State's Official Law Book:

  Imagine a state like Massachusetts, which has passed thousands of laws over centuries. Instead of having to search through every single legislative act ever passed, the state has an official compilation called the Massachusetts General Laws. When a lawyer refers to "Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85," they are citing a specific chapter and section within this organized, revised collection of Massachusetts's statutes. This collection is its "Revised Statutes."

  This example illustrates how "Revised Statutes" represent the official, consolidated body of a state's laws, providing a structured way to locate and reference specific legal provisions.

• Example in Legal Research for a Business:

  A small business owner in Colorado wants to understand the legal requirements for hiring employees, including minimum wage, overtime rules, and anti-discrimination policies. Their attorney would consult the Colorado Revised Statutes (often abbreviated as C.R.S.) to find the precise language of the laws governing employment within the state. The attorney might then advise, "According to C.R.S. Title 8, Article 4, Section 101, all employers must provide a written notice of pay rates."

  This example demonstrates how "Revised Statutes" serve as the authoritative source for legal research, providing the exact wording of laws that govern business operations and compliance.

• Example of Legislative Updates:

  When a state legislature passes a new law, for instance, one that increases penalties for distracted driving, that new law doesn't just exist in isolation. It is eventually integrated into the state's existing "Revised Statutes." The new provisions will be codified and placed within the relevant section (e.g., the motor vehicle or criminal code section) of the state's Revised Statutes, amending or replacing older, less stringent rules. Periodically, the entire set of Revised Statutes might be re-enacted to reflect all these changes.

  This example highlights that "Revised Statutes" are dynamic documents, regularly updated to incorporate new legislation and reflect changes in the law, ensuring they remain current and comprehensive.