Introduction to State and Federal Statutes

This is an introductory lesson on federal and state statutes to acquaint first-year law students with this important form of law. The lesson focuses on the basic structure of statutes and the sources in which they appear. It doesn't describe how to research statutes, but you'll learn statutory research much more easily if you understand this material first.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Explain all parts of a statute, including their numbering systems, and importance.
2. Explain slip laws, session laws, codes, and annotated codes, including their numbering systems, and importance.
3. Discuss the relationships of slip laws, session laws, codes, and annotated codes.
4. Indicate all the sources for slip laws, session laws, codes, and annotated codes, including both commercial and free.