Legal Definitions - United States Code Annotated

The United States Code Annotated, often abbreviated as USCA, is a comprehensive legal resource that compiles all federal laws passed by the U.S. Congress, known collectively as the United States Code. However, it offers much more than just the raw text of these laws.

The USCA provides extensive supplementary information designed to help legal professionals and researchers understand the context and interpretation of federal statutes. This additional material typically includes:

• Historical Notes: Details about the law's origins, amendments, and legislative changes over time.
• Cross-References: Links to related statutes, regulations, or other legal provisions.
• Casenotes: Summaries of court decisions from federal and state courts that have interpreted, applied, or clarified specific sections of the federal law. These summaries are crucial for understanding how judges have ruled on particular legal issues.

In essence, the USCA is an indispensable tool for anyone needing to understand not just what a federal law says, but also how it has evolved and how courts have applied it in real-world situations.

Here are a few examples illustrating how the United States Code Annotated is used:

• Example 1: A Law Student Researching Consumer Protection

  Imagine a law student writing a paper on the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a federal law that governs how credit bureaus handle consumer credit information. Instead of just reading the bare text of the FCRA, the student would consult the USCA. There, they would find the full text of the FCRA, along with historical notes detailing amendments made to the act over the years. Crucially, they would also find "casenotes" – summaries of court cases where judges have interpreted specific sections of the FCRA, for example, what constitutes a "reasonable procedure" for ensuring accuracy in credit reports, or what damages consumers can seek for violations. This additional context helps the student understand the law's practical application and judicial interpretation.

• Example 2: An Attorney Advising a Business on Environmental Compliance

  A manufacturing company's legal team needs to ensure the company complies with the federal Clean Air Act, specifically regarding emissions standards for a new facility. The attorney would use the USCA to look up the relevant sections of the Clean Air Act. Beyond the statutory language, the USCA would provide cross-references to related environmental regulations and, more importantly, summaries of court cases where other companies have faced legal challenges or sought clarification on similar emissions provisions. These casenotes would illustrate how courts have interpreted the requirements for compliance, guiding the attorney on what specific measures or documentation are typically needed to avoid legal issues.

• Example 3: A Public Policy Analyst Evaluating Disability Rights Legislation

  A public policy analyst is studying the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on employment practices across different industries. They need to understand not only the law's text but also how it has been applied and interpreted by the courts since its enactment. The analyst would turn to the USCA for the ADA. They would find the original text of the law, along with any subsequent amendments. The USCA would also provide legislative history, explaining the intent behind certain provisions. Most importantly, the extensive casenotes would summarize numerous federal court decisions that have defined key terms like "reasonable accommodation" or "undue hardship," or determined what constitutes discrimination under the ADA. This allows the analyst to grasp the practical effect and judicial boundaries of the law beyond its literal wording, informing their policy recommendations.