When researching a topic, it is important that you begin by reading some background information. Resources such as encyclopedias, almanacs, and handbooks often present a piece of legislation within the context of related legislation, discussing its significance in the body of law.

This is a good way for you to identify vocabulary that you will use later, when you are searching through databases for a copy of a law, or books and articles about it. While you are reading, jot down any titles, popular names, and citations that refer to the legislation. Also, make note of vocabulary that might be useful if you are searching for related legislation by topic.

The words that you use in your searches are very important, in that they can determine how much or how little information you find.

Below you will find a list of resources for finding laws and legislation and articles about them. The resources are grouped to help you choose where to look if you are searching by topic, by popular name, or by citation. Sources of Federal and Maryland legislation are included.

Two sources that you might find useful, if you want to learn more about the legislative process are:

How Our Laws Are Made [Library of Congress]
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html

How a Bill Becomes a Law from Project Vote Smart
http://www.vote-smart.org/ce/congresstrack/billtolaw.phtml

West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 1998-
Use this for:
> Identifying terminology
> Relating topics to legal concepts (e.g. 1st amendment, freedom of speech )
> Identifying major legislation (names and dates)

Also available full text online from the Cook Library Web site at: http://cooklibrary.towson.edu/databasesByTitle.cfm#W
[Use your Library ID to access this from off campus.]

Constitutional Rights Sourcebook. 1999
> Explains the essence of amendments with accompanying cases and their significance in constitutional interpretation

Alphabetical Listing of "Law About" Topics
Legal Information Institute at Cornell University
http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/topic1.html
> Provides direct links to full text of federal law
> Usefulness for finding state law varies, depending on the topic and flexibility of each state's code

U.S.Federal Code
Go to Cook Library at http://cooklibrary.towson.edu Click on Research Tools. Click on LexisNexis Academic.
> Click on Legal Research. Click on Federal Code.
> Click on Guided Search and search by Full Text , or if too unwieldy, search by Heading
> Click on Expanded List view

State Codes
Go to Cook Library at http://cooklibrary.towson.edu Click on Research Tools. Click on LexisNexis Academic.
> Click on Legal Research. Click on State Codes.
> Click on Guided Search and search by Full Text , or if too unwieldy, search by Section
> Click on Expanded List view

United States Code Table of Popular Acts
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/topn
> Alphabetic list of laws by name with direct links to full text of those laws which are codified under one Title

U.S. Federal Code
Go to Cook Library at http://cooklibrary.towson.edu Click on Research Tools. Click on LexisNexis Academic.
Click on Legal Research. Click on Federal Code.
> Click on Guided Search and search in Cite field
> For example, to search for Title XX sec 3181 type 20 uscs sec 3181
> To find where Public laws have been incorporated into the Code, for example, Public Law # 101-226 type p.l. 101-226 in History field

United States Statutes at Large v.81, 90th Cong. 1st Sess., 1967-
> Use this to locate full text of Public Laws from 1967- if you have a Public Law # or U.S Statute cite

State Codes
Go to Cook Library at http://cooklibrary.towson.edu Click on Research Tools. Click on LexisNexis Academic.
Click on Legal Research. Click on State Codes. Click on a state.
> Click on Guided Search
> Select an appropriate Source
> For example, to search for Md Ann Code Art. 27 sec. 36b type art 27 sec 36b in Cite field
> For example, to search for Md EDUCATION Ann Code sec 4-124 type education and sec 4-124 in Cite field

Law Reviews
Go to Cook Library at http://cooklibrary.towson.edu Click on Research Tools. Click on LexisNexis Academic.
Click on Legal Research, then Law Reviews.
> Search this section for articles on laws, especially as they have been interpreted through court decisions
> Click on Sort by:Relevance, or try searching in Guided Search , in the at least 3 field, to focus your search

Check with a Reference Librarian for other suggestions.