Comm 422: Primary Sources

For legal research hear is one working definition of primary sources.

Primary Sources:  Primary sources provide first-hand, original information.  Primary sources may include, but are not limited to laws and legislation, Acts of Congress, court cases, rules and regulations, government documents (such as congressional hearings), etc.

• Statutes: including Statutes at Large (laws passed by Congress) and United States Code (Annotated)(denoted as USC or USCA) (a codification of the laws/statutes by subject, with an index).   Online via the LexisNexis database
• Regulations: including Federal Register (rules and regulations passed by federal regulatory agencies – published daily) and Code of Federal Regulations (denoted as CFR) (a codification of the rules and regulations from the Federal Register)  
• Congressional Record (a daily record of what’s said and debated on the floor of Congress – sort of, kind of, maybe.  It can be revised by request of a Congressperson). Found in the VCK Library government documents area, and online via the Government Information LibGuide.
• Court Cases (LexisNexis)
• Homer Catalog (for government documents, including congressional hearings)
• FCC web site (www.fcc.gov)

 Find Primary Sources using the following:

• Government Documents web page:  locate this by clicking on “Reference Sources” from the library homepage, then click on “Government Info” near the top.  Included are things such as Congressional Record, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, Supreme Court Opinions, Congressional Hearings, etc.

(Adapted from Owsego State University Library)

Secondary Sources include books, magazines, journals and newspapers which contain articles discussing various laws, regulations and various related issues.  Why use them?  Secondary Sources often:

• Are the best place to start your research
• Provide terminology
• Are easier to find
• Give a feel or overview of the event or issue, and often supply dates, names and other background information, such as the names and citations of statutes and court cases
• May refer to related subjects or issues
• Are more readable than many primary sources
• Digest or synthesize the information found in primary sources

Some reference encyclopedias you may want to consider browsing through to get a feel for your topic, more definitions, and other important background information include:

Gale Virtual Reference

Note:  All of these encyclopedias are secondary sources, but they may lead you to primary sources such as Acts of Congress and other laws, federal regulations, court cases and other government documents (congressional hearings, etc.)

Find Secondary Sources using the following databases: (others may also work as well)

• Proquest
• Communication and Mass Media Complete
• ABI/Inform Global
• Catalog (to locate books, reference books)

(Adapted from Oswego University Library)

For Reference services & research help:

• 24/7 chat & email reference options: Ask-A-Librarian
• staffed by other universities in the late night hours
  

• Make an appointment or send questions: Email Chimene

• Visit or Call Doheny Memorial Library Reference Desk:
  Desk Hours (213) 740-4039