This guide explains:
Statutes are laws enacted by a legislative body (Congress or a state legislature). They are binding on people located within the jurisdictional authority of the legislative body (i.e., everyone in the U.S. has to abide by federal statutes, and people in Florida also have to abide by Florida statutes). While statutes are presumed to be clear as to their meaning, it is usually necessary to consult court decisions to determine how a particular statute is applied within the jurisdiction. This guide will cover how to find that interpretive case law.
Statutes are published in three different forms: slip laws, session laws and codes. Each form provides advantages for different research needs.
Most statutory legal research is conducted using codes, since they provide the most complete picture of what the law is at a particular time by bringing related provisions together. New provisions and amendments are regularly incorporated, and repealed provisions are removed.