Legal Reference Sources

About Federal, State, & Local Codes

Codes are subject-organized compilations of laws that are currently in force—at the federal level (the United States Code), in each state (e.g., Michigan Compiled Laws), and in cities/townships (local ordinances).

Instead of reading laws in the order they were passed, codes group them by topic so you can quickly find the current rule that applies to your question.

Use a code to locate the exact wording of a law, see where it lives within the broader legal framework, and confirm you’re looking at the most up-to-date version.

Tip: annotated codes include research notes (case summaries, history, references); official codes provide the law’s text without commentary.

United States Code

The United States Code includes all current federal laws, organized by subject (codified).

Federal Public & Private Laws

Michigan State Code

The Michigan Compiled Laws (M.C.L.) contains the text of all current  Michigan public laws arranged by subject.

Other State Codes

Michigan Local Ordinances

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