CFR Index, Thesaurus of Indexing Terms, and Agency List of Subjects

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rCFR INDEX

• Finding Aid developed to assist users in better navigating the Code of Federal Regulations.

• Annual publication, revised as of January 1.• Published under authority of 44 U.S.C. 1504 and

1510(b). • Regulations found at 1 CFR 6.3 and 8.4.• Consists of:

Subject Index for the CFR List of agency-prepared indexes Parallel Table of Authorities and Rules List of CFR Titles, Chapters, Subchapters and Parts Alphabetical list of Agencies appearing in the CFR

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rSUBJECT INDEX

• Content made up of terms, agency names and cross-references.

• Arranged in alphabetical order.• CFR Parts arranged under each applicable term or

agency name using subheadings where useful.• Terms appearing in Index are taken primarily from

the Thesaurus of Indexing Terms.• Additional terms used not in Thesaurus for

geographic locations, specific commodities, and industry terms as allowed.

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rTHESAURUS OF INDEXING TERMS

• Need for an index consisting of standardized terms suggested in comments to a 1974 notice document.

• Notices published requesting public and agency input for usable terms and indexing sources.

• First Thesaurus published March 7, 1977. • Subsequent updates published February 17, 1981,

June 16, 1983 and September 19, 1990.• Last complete Thesaurus published November 16,

1995. This version available online at:

http://www.archives.gov/federalregister/cfr/thesaurus.html

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rLIST OF SUBJECTS

• Agencies initially asked to use terms in proposed rule and rule documents on a trial basis in 1977.

• Two proposed rules published in 1980 would require agencies to incorporate a List of Subjects in future rule and proposed rule documents. Final rule published January 22, 1981.

• Subjects were to be taken primarily from Thesaurus of Indexing Terms or acceptable industry, commodity and geographic terms.

• Agencies required to use at least one or more terms from Thesaurus.

• Variants and additional terms acceptable but would be picked up under existing terms or not carried in CFR Index if too specific or technical.

• Guidance for creating the List of Subjects can be found in Document Drafting Handbook under Section 2.6.

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rLIST OF SUBJECTS

Full vs. Partial• Informed recently that some agencies have sent partial lists

of subjects in rule/proposed rule documents in the past.• OFR has no way of knowing whether it is partial or

complete. Anything not included in any List of Subjects will be removed for that part.

• Agencies are responsible for including a complete list of subject terms for any amendment that requires a List of Subjects in the document.

• Our office will clarify the wording in the next revision of the Document Drafting Handbook.

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rLIST OF SUBJECTS BY CFR PART

• List of Subjects by CFR Part, located on NARA/OFR page has been outdated since 2004.

• Created in 2004 using software no longer used by our office. Further updates were not considered practical until recent change in procedures. Updates should continue regularly on a quarterly basis.

• Updated material should be posted within a few days.• Require agency assistance to verify entries.• Corrections to list should be emailed to:

frsubjectlist@gpo.gov• This should be used only once to correct what is wrong with

our current list. Future changes should be done through the List of Subjects section in future rule/proposed rule documents.

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rCFR Index and List of Subjects

Questions?• Questions about the CFR Index or Thesaurus contact:

Brian Swidaleswidal@gpo.gov; brian.swidal@gpo.gov

202 741-6081

• Document Drafting Handbook:

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/write/handbook

• Thesaurus of Indexing Terms:

http://www.archives.gov/federalregister/cfr/thesaurus.html

• Changes to the List of Subjects by CFR Part

frsubjectlist@nara.gov