See also Law Library Research Guide: Federal Legislative History
The legislative branch of the federal government consists of the Congress, which is divided into two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. When Congress passes a bill into law, the document is given a Public Law Number (ex. P.L. 100-53 refers to the 53rd law passed by the 100th Congress). Public laws are then published, chronologically, in the United States Statutes at Large (Stat.). The statutes are then codified---organized by subject---in the United States Code. The Office of Law Revision Counsel is responsible for codification.
