There are multiple ways to view the United States Code online, including the Cornell Legal Information Institute, FDsys, and the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the United States House of Representatives. In fact, you can find a link in THOMAS to the Office of the Law Revision Counsel site for the U.S. Code (on the left hand navigation bar) as well as the XML version of the text of legislation. Now there is about to be another option from the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, which is currently in beta testing. The Office of the Law Revision Counsel is seeking comments from the public on this new version.
The website, now released as public beta for testing and feedback, is available on two websites. I’ve been trying it out for a couple of days now and am really enjoying the new format, especially the browse format of the front page.
Some key features of the new website are:
- A new search engine for Code data
- An expanding “Table of Contents” style browse of the Code
- A simple search facility for quickly accessing specific Code sections or performing simple word or phrase searches
- An advanced search facility for sophisticated searching of Code content using delimiters such as field or Code hierarchy restrictions, Boolean logic, and case sensitive searches
- An improved display of search results and Code documents
- Cite Checker, a new tool that enables quick checking of specific Code sections for recent amendments
- Easy access to USCprelim, an advance posting of the next online version of the Code
- New explanatory material about the Code and the functions of the Office
Prospective features include:
- Ability to search previous versions of the Code
- Ability to search USCprelim
- Enhanced internal and external links
Following a period of testing, the new website will replace the current website as the primary site. You can send questions and comments to [email protected].
Comments
Christine,
Thank you for helping to publicize the beta site. I’m looking forward to seeing what improvements arise from comments from librarians and the general public.
Nick