Georgetown Law
Georgetown Law Library

District of Columbia Resources

This State Guide provides an in-depth look at sources of law within the District of Columbia.

Statutes

To facilitate research for current laws, laws are compiled by subject. Like the U.S. Code and state codes, the District of Columbia Code is a subject compilation of enacted legislation, divided into titles, chapters and sections. However, unlike most state codes, the D.C. Code also contains federal statutes which have an impact on the District of Columbia.

There are two D.C. Code publications:

District of Columbia Official Code (D.C. Code)

Databases

Website

Print Statutes

Published by LexisNexis. The current edition is the 2001 edition (2013 republication commemorating 40 years of Home Rule for the District of Columbia). It is an annotated version, with legislative history information, references to related statutes and case annotations. A subject index provides topical access. A "Tables" volume provides a Comparative Sections table, a disposition table, a popular name table, a District of Columbia Register Table, an emergency act table, D.C. Law not codified table, and United States Code Table. The Code is updated by annual pocket parts and "Advance Legislative Service" (updated quarterly).

Historical Statutes

West's District of Columbia Code Annotated (D.C. Code Ann.)

Databases

Print Statutes

Published by Thomson West. The current edition is the 2001 edition. It is an unofficial D.C. Code. It is also annotated, with legislative history information, references to related statutes and case annotations. A subject index provides topical access. The General index provides subject access to the Code. A separate "Tables" volume provides parallel references to earlier (1981 and 1973) editions, a disposition table, a popular name table, a District of Columbia Register Table, an emergency act table, and a D.C. Laws not codified table. The Code is updated by annual pocket parts (published in June) and black paperback "Interim Update Services" (published in October and February).