Okay, let’s break down what the government document “United States Statutes at Large, Volume 62, 80th Congress, 2nd Session” (published at the GovInfo link on May 8, 2025, at 7:58 PM, according to your prompt) represents and why it’s important, even though the publication date is currently in the future. Since the document and the information within it are hypothetical given the future publication date, the article will focus on what this kind of document typically contains and its historical and legal significance.
Understanding the United States Statutes at Large: A Key to American Law
Imagine a massive, multi-volume encyclopedia containing all the laws passed by the United States Congress. That’s essentially what the United States Statutes at Large is. It’s the official record of laws enacted by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by the President. It’s a crucial resource for anyone interested in the legal history and current framework of the United States.
What’s in a Volume? Unpacking “Volume 62, 80th Congress, 2nd Session”
Let’s dissect the title to understand its components:
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“United States Statutes at Large”: This is the name of the publication itself. It’s often abbreviated as “Stat.”
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“Volume 62”: Each Congress passes laws over a two-year period. The laws passed are compiled in numerical order into volumes. Volume 62 would be the cumulative record of laws passed up to a certain point in time.
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“80th Congress”: The U.S. Congress operates in two-year cycles. Each Congress is numbered sequentially. The 80th Congress met from 1947 to 1949. (Note: This part is based on actual historical information).
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“2nd Session”: Each Congress has two sessions, one each year. The “2nd Session” refers to the second year of the 80th Congress (1948).
Therefore, Volume 62 of the United States Statutes at Large contains the public and private laws passed during the second session of the 80th Congress. This volume would contain statutes such as bills related to appropriations, defense, international trade, or any other area within the purview of Congress.
Why is the Statutes at Large Important?
The Statutes at Large serves several critical functions:
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Official Record: It’s the official source of U.S. law as it was originally enacted. This is vital for legal research and interpretation. When disputes arise over the meaning of a law, the Statutes at Large is consulted to determine the original legislative intent.
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Historical Context: It provides a historical snapshot of the laws in effect at a particular time. Researchers can use it to trace the evolution of legal principles, understand societal priorities, and analyze the impact of legislation.
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Foundation for the U.S. Code: While the Statutes at Large presents laws chronologically, the United States Code (U.S.C.) organizes laws by subject matter. The U.S.C. is a codified version of general and permanent laws. The Statutes at Large serves as the source from which the U.S. Code is derived.
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Legal Research: Lawyers, judges, historians, and other researchers rely on the Statutes at Large to understand the history of legislation, interpret its meaning, and apply it to specific cases.
What Kind of Laws Might Be Included in the 80th Congress, 2nd Session (Historically)?
Given that the 80th Congress convened shortly after World War II, legislation related to the following areas was likely prominent:
- Post-War Economic Adjustments: Laws dealing with veterans’ benefits, economic conversion from wartime production, and managing the national debt.
- Foreign Policy & International Relations: Legislation related to the Marshall Plan, the beginning of the Cold War, and the establishment of international organizations like the United Nations.
- Domestic Policy: Legislation addressing housing shortages, labor relations (the Taft-Hartley Act was a major piece of legislation from this Congress), and civil rights.
How to Access the Statutes at Large (Today)
The Statutes at Large is a public document. You can typically access it through:
- GovInfo (the official U.S. Government Publishing Office website): This is where you can find digitized versions of historical volumes and current publications.
- Law Libraries: Law schools and large public libraries often maintain collections of the Statutes at Large.
- Legal Research Databases: Services like Westlaw and LexisNexis also provide access to the Statutes at Large as part of their legal research resources.
In Summary
The United States Statutes at Large is a fundamental resource for understanding the legal foundation of the United States. It contains a complete record of laws passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. Volumes such as “Volume 62, 80th Congress, 2nd Session,” provide a window into the laws and societal concerns of a particular period in American history. Even though the specific publication date you provided is in the future, the principles of the Statutes at Large remain the same: to provide an official, chronological record of U.S. law.
United States Statutes at Large, Volume 62, 80th Congress, 2nd Session
The AI has delivered the news.
The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-05-08 19:58, ‘United States Statutes at Large, Volume 62, 80th Congress, 2nd Session’ was published according to Statutes at Large. Ple ase write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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