Okay, let’s break down what a Statutes at Large publication is and then discuss the specific document you linked.
What are the United States Statutes at Large?
Think of the United States Statutes at Large (often abbreviated as Stat.) as the official, chronological record of all laws passed by the United States Congress. It’s basically a big collection of everything that becomes law in the US, printed in the order it was enacted.
Here’s why that’s important:
- Official Record: Stat. is the primary source for determining what the actual text of a law is. While other sources (like the United States Code – discussed later) can be helpful, Stat. is where you go to find the original, official wording.
- Chronological Order: Unlike the United States Code, which organizes laws by subject, Stat. presents them as they were passed. This is crucial for understanding the historical context and development of legal topics.
- Permanent Record: It’s a comprehensive and enduring record of legislative activity.
What is contained in a Volume of Statutes at Large?
Each volume of the Statutes at Large typically contains the laws enacted during a single session of Congress (a session usually lasts a year). For example, the document you linked to: United States Statutes at Large, Volume 55, 77th Congress, 1st Session, covers the laws passed during the first session of the 77th Congress. That Congress met in 1941.
Key things found within a Statutes at Large volume:
- Public Laws: These are laws that apply to the general public. They cover a wide range of topics.
- Private Laws: These laws apply to specific individuals, groups, or entities. They are less common than public laws. Examples might include laws relating to specific immigration cases or land claims.
- Resolutions: These are formal expressions of the opinion or will of one or both houses of Congress. They can be used for various purposes, such as expressing congratulations or directing government agencies to take specific actions. Resolutions don’t always have the force of law, but they can be important.
- Presidential Proclamations: These are official declarations issued by the President, often on matters of national or ceremonial significance.
- Reorganization Plans: These are plans submitted by the President to reorganize the executive branch of the government. They are subject to Congressional approval.
Decoding the Specific Document: Volume 55, 77th Congress, 1st Session
Let’s analyze what we know about the United States Statutes at Large, Volume 55, 77th Congress, 1st Session:
- Volume 55: This means it’s the 55th volume of the Statutes at Large published.
- 77th Congress: This tells us that the laws contained within this volume were enacted by the 77th Congress of the United States.
- 1st Session: This indicates that the laws were passed during the first session of that Congress. (A Congress usually has two sessions, one each year.)
- Year: Based on the 77th Congress, 1st Session, these laws were passed in 1941.
- Historical Significance: 1941 was a monumental year in American history. The United States was drawn into World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December. Therefore, Volume 55 is likely to contain important legislation related to national defense, war preparation, and economic mobilization.
What you might expect to find in Volume 55:
Given the context of 1941, you’d likely find laws related to:
- Military Appropriations: Funding for the armed forces.
- Defense Production: Laws aimed at boosting the production of war materials.
- Selective Service: Possibly amendments or extensions to the draft.
- Lend-Lease Act: This pivotal law, enacted in March 1941, authorized the President to provide aid to countries whose defense was deemed vital to the United States (primarily Great Britain and later the Soviet Union). You would absolutely find the Lend-Lease Act in this volume.
- Declarations of War: The official declaration of war against Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and subsequently against Germany and Italy, would be a key component of this volume.
- Emergency Powers: Legislation granting the President additional powers to deal with the national emergency.
- Economic Controls: Laws relating to price controls, rationing, and other economic measures.
The Relationship Between Statutes at Large and the United States Code
It’s essential to understand the difference between Statutes at Large and the United States Code (often abbreviated as U.S.C.):
- Statutes at Large: As explained, this is the chronological record of laws. It’s the “raw” legislative output.
- United States Code: This is a subject-matter arrangement of the general and permanent laws of the United States. It organizes laws by topic (e.g., Title 15 is Commerce and Trade, Title 26 is Internal Revenue). The U.S.C. is updated periodically to reflect amendments and repeals.
Think of it this way: Congress passes a law (it appears in Stat.). Later, that law (or parts of it) is incorporated into the U.S.C. under the appropriate subject heading. The U.S.C. is a codification of the laws found in Stat.
Importance of the Date: 2025-05-09 13:46
The date “2025-05-09 13:46” is likely the date that the document was published online or updated in the govinfo.gov database. It doesn’t refer to when the law was originally passed or when the Statutes at Large volume was initially published. The laws within would have been passed during 1941.
In summary: The United States Statutes at Large, Volume 55, 77th Congress, 1st Session is a crucial historical document containing the official text of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in 1941, a period dominated by the lead-up to and entry into World War II. It’s a primary source for legal research and understanding the legislative response to a critical time in American history. If you were researching a legal question from that era, Stat. would be the authoritative source.
United States Statutes at Large, Volume 55, 77th Congress, 1st Session
The AI has delivered the news.
The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-05-09 13:46, ‘United States Statutes at Large, Volume 55, 77th Congress, 1st Session’ was published according to Statutes at Large. Please write a detailed article with related information in an ea sy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
1657