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Statutory Research

This guide discusses what statutes are; how statutes fit into legal research; how statutes are published; where they can be found online & in print; how to update statutes; how to find 50 state statutory surveys; & the role of uniform/model laws.

What are 50 State Surveys?

United States map

50 State Surveys are a compilation of the laws across jurisdictions (not always all 50 states) on a specific topic.  

Example: Imagine being asked to compare the different laws regarding marijuana from state to state. Before searching through each state individually, look for a survey! Someone may have already done a lot of the legwork. The researcher still has to pull the actual statutes, read them, and update them, but a survey can save a tremendous amount of time. 

Sources for 50 State Surveys