Okay, let’s break down the “United States Statutes at Large, Volume 76, 87th Congress, 2nd Session” publication from govinfo.gov. I’ll provide a detailed, yet easy-to-understand explanation of what it is, its significance, and how to access and use it.
Understanding the Publication: United States Statutes at Large, Volume 76, 87th Congress, 2nd Session
This publication represents a specific segment of the official record of laws passed by the United States Congress. To fully understand what it means, let’s break down the key terms:
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United States Statutes at Large (Stat.): This is the official, permanent collection of all laws and concurrent resolutions passed by the United States Congress. Think of it as the official record of the legislative branch’s output. It’s chronological, meaning laws are published in the order they were passed. It’s distinct from the United States Code, which is a subject-matter arrangement of the laws currently in effect. The Statutes at Large shows the original wording of the law as it was passed.
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Volume 76: This refers to a specific volume number within the Statutes at Large series. The series is organized into numbered volumes, each covering a particular period of congressional activity. Volume 76 contains laws enacted during a specific time frame.
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87th Congress: The United States Congress operates in two-year terms (elections every two years for the House of Representatives). The 87th Congress spanned from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1963. This volume contains laws enacted between 1961 and 1963.
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2nd Session: Each Congress is divided into two sessions, one for each year of its term. The 2nd Session of the 87th Congress refers to the legislative period from January 1962 to late 1962/early 1963. This volume contains laws enacted between 1962 and 1963.
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govinfo.gov: This is the official website of the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO). It provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government. Accessing this specific volume through govinfo.gov assures you are viewing an authentic and official copy.
Significance
The Statutes at Large is important for several reasons:
- Official Record: It serves as the official legal record of the laws of the United States. It’s the definitive source for the exact wording of the laws as passed.
- Historical Context: It provides a historical record of the laws enacted during a specific period. It can be used to understand the legislative priorities and concerns of the time.
- Legal Research: Lawyers, historians, political scientists, and the general public use the Statutes at Large for legal research, historical analysis, and understanding the evolution of US law.
- Determining the Effective Date: The Statutes at Large will show exactly when a law was passed, which is crucial for determining its effective date (when it came into force).
- Legislative Intent: The Statutes at Large, when coupled with other legislative history materials, can help to understand the intent behind a law. What problems was Congress trying to solve? What goals were they trying to achieve?
What You’ll Find in Volume 76
Volume 76 will contain the text of all public and private laws passed by the 87th Congress, 2nd Session (1962-1963). This might include:
- Public Laws: Laws that apply to the general public or to broad categories of people or situations. Examples could include amendments to existing laws, new social programs, or changes to federal regulations.
- Private Laws: Laws that benefit specific individuals, groups, or entities. These are less common than public laws.
- Concurrent Resolutions: These are resolutions passed by both the House and Senate, often to express the sense of Congress on a particular issue or to establish procedures for Congress itself.
Examples of Potential Content in Volume 76 (Given the Era)
While I cannot know the exact contents without reviewing the volume, laws enacted during the 87th Congress, 2nd Session, might have dealt with issues such as:
- The Cold War: Defense spending, foreign aid, and legislation related to the space race.
- Civil Rights: Early legislation related to civil rights and equality.
- Economic Policy: Laws related to economic growth, employment, and social welfare programs.
- Space Exploration: Laws related to NASA and the US space program.
How to Access and Use govinfo.gov to Find Information
- Go to the govinfo.gov website: https://www.govinfo.gov/
- Search or Browse: You can use the search bar to specifically search for “United States Statutes at Large, Volume 76”. Alternatively, you can browse by collection (Statutes at Large) and then navigate to the correct volume.
- Download or View: Once you find the volume, you should be able to download it in PDF format or view it online.
- Navigation: Within the PDF, you’ll likely find a table of contents that lists all the laws included in the volume. You can use this to find specific laws of interest.
Tips for Using the Statutes at Large
- Understand the Context: When researching a law, it’s important to understand the historical and legal context in which it was enacted.
- Check for Amendments: Laws are often amended (changed) over time. Be sure to check if the law you are researching has been amended since its original enactment. The Statutes at Large will not show these amendments; the United States Code is the place to look for the current state of the law.
- Consult the United States Code: As mentioned, the United States Code (USC) is a subject-matter arrangement of the general and permanent laws of the United States currently in force. After finding the original law in the Statutes at Large, you should then consult the USC to see how it has been amended and whether it is still in effect.
- Use Legal Databases: Legal databases like Westlaw and LexisNexis provide access to the Statutes at Large, the United States Code, and other legal materials, along with powerful search tools and annotations. (These are typically subscription services.)
In summary: The “United States Statutes at Large, Volume 76, 87th Congress, 2nd Session” is a valuable primary source for understanding the laws of the United States. It provides the official text of laws enacted during a specific period and offers insights into the legislative process and historical context. By using govinfo.gov, you can access this resource for free and use it for legal research, historical analysis, or general information. Remember to consider the historical context and check for amendments when researching laws.
United States Statutes at Large, Volume 76, 87th Congress, 2nd Session
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The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-06-09 19:09, ‘United States Statutes at Large, Volume 76, 87th Congress, 2nd Session’ was published according to Statutes at Large. Please write a detailed a rticle with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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