Research Guides: Guide to Law Online: U.S. Washington, D.C.: Introduction (original) (raw)

Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. Aerial view of Washington, D.C. [between 1980 and 1990]. Carol M. Highsmith Archive. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.

The Guide to Law Online is an annotated collection of links to free online legal materials and pertinent resources in the Library of Congress catalog, organized by jurisdiction. The Guide is not meant to be an exhaustive list of resources, but it covers all relevant research areas for each jurisdiction. Each Guide to Law Online jurisdictional guide is divided into the following areas:

• Constitution
• Executive Branch
• Judicial Branch
• Legislative Branch
• Legal Guides
• General Sources

This guide focuses on Washington, D.C., which was established as the national capital by the United States Constitution, and was founded in 1790. In compiling this research guide, emphasis has been placed on sites offering the full texts of laws, regulations, and court decisions, along with commentary from lawyers writing primarily for other lawyers. Materials related to law and government that were written by or for lay persons also have been included, as have government sites providing general information. Although this research guide is selective, inclusion of a site or resource does not constitute endorsement by the Law Library of Congress.

If researchers have information identifying any online sources not yet included, as well as comments on errors or changes in addresses, conditions, or contents that warrant changes in the descriptions of these jurisdictional guides, please submit suggestions via the Law Library's Ask a Librarian form. The editors of the guide are grateful for your feedback.