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Simple English definitions for legal terms
United States Code
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A quick definition of United States Code:
The United States Code (U.S.C.) is a collection of laws made by Congress and signed by the President. The laws are organized into different topics called "titles" and there are 54 titles in total. The U.S.C. contains most of the laws that are important for the country. However, sometimes new laws are made after the U.S.C. is published, so it's important to check for updates. Some books that have the U.S.C. also have notes that explain the laws and how they have changed over time. When people talk about a law, they usually say where it can be found in the U.S.C. For example, a court case might talk about "28 U.S.C. § 1452(a)" which means section 1452, subsection a, of title 28 in the U.S.C.
A more thorough explanation:
The United States Code (U.S.C.) is a collection of federal statutes that have been enacted by Congress and signed by the President. These statutes are organized by topic into a series of titles, numbered from 1 to 54. The U.S. Code contains almost all of the statutes of general effect at the time of its compilation.
However, to ensure an up-to-date understanding of the statutes related to a particular topic, one must consult both the U.S. Code and determine whether there have been any pertinent amendments or additions to the law since its compilation.
Some commercially published editions of the U.S. Code include editorial notes that detail the changes over time that lie behind current provisions and summarize court decisions and regulations interpreting them. When a judicial opinion or other legal document refers to a particular statutory provision, it will normally cite to its location in the U.S. Code.
In Things Remembered, Inc. v. Petrarca, the court dealt with a statute addressing jurisdiction by Federal and state courts in situations of bankruptcy. The decision focuses on the language of "28 U.S.C. § 1452(a)" -- which is subsection a, of section 1452, of title 28 of the U.S. Code.
This example illustrates how the U.S. Code is used as a reference in legal documents and court cases to identify specific statutory provisions related to a particular topic.
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