Office of the Law Revision Counsel

Office of the Law Revision Counsel. The Office of the Law Revision Counsel is a nonpartisan office within the United States Congress responsible for preparing and publishing the official compilation of federal statutory law, the United States Code. Established by the Act of October 2, 1974, the office operates under the supervision of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. Its primary mission is to ensure the United States Code is a coherent, consistent, and authoritative legal resource for Congress, the federal judiciary, and the public.

History and establishment

The office was created by the Act of October 2, 1974, which was signed into law by President Gerald Ford. This legislation emerged from a growing recognition of the need for a permanent, professional body to manage the complex task of codifying federal law, a duty previously handled by temporary committees and private publishers. The establishment followed recommendations from entities like the Commission on Revision of the Federal Court Appellate System and built upon earlier codification efforts, such as those undertaken for the United States Code in 1926. The first Law Revision Counsel was appointed in 1975, formally initiating the office's ongoing work to maintain and update the nation's official statutory code.

Functions and responsibilities

The core function is the continuous editorial preparation and publication of new editions of the United States Code. This involves integrating newly enacted laws from the Statutes at Large into the appropriate titles of the code, making necessary technical and conforming amendments, and resolving inconsistencies. The office also prepares and drafts proposed codification bills for consideration by the Judiciary Committee, which, upon enactment, become positive law titles. Additional duties include providing legal advice to Congress on matters of statutory classification and revision, maintaining an online legal database, and publishing annual cumulative supplements to reflect legislative changes.

Organizational structure

The office is headed by the Law Revision Counsel, who is appointed by the Speaker of the House in consultation with the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The staff primarily consists of attorneys with expertise in statutory construction and legislative process, as well as editorial and technical support personnel. As an office of the House of Representatives, it operates under the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary and receives its funding through the legislative branch appropriations process. This structure ensures its nonpartisan, technical role in support of the legislative institution.

The United States Code

The office is the official editor and publisher of the United States Code, which is the formal consolidation and codification of all general and permanent federal statutes. A critical task is the conversion of titles from a prima facie evidence of law to "positive law," meaning the code itself is legal proof of the law. This process involves meticulous legal analysis, drafting, and the passage of enacting legislation by Congress, such as the significant codification of Title 10, United States Code (Armed Forces). The office's work ensures the code remains an organized, accessible, and authoritative source, distinct from the chronological publication of laws in the United States Statutes at Large.

Relationship with Congress

The office maintains a close, service-oriented relationship with Congress, functioning as a central drafting and technical resource for statutory classification. It works directly with the House Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on codification and revision projects. While it prepares legislation for consideration, it does not engage in policy advocacy, adhering strictly to its nonpartisan, technical mandate. Its analyses and proposed codification bills are essential tools for lawmakers during the legislative process, aiding in the clarity and coherence of federal law as envisioned by the Founding Fathers in the U.S. Constitution.