Using the Search Center
Running a federated search
Find by partial citation
Find
by citation
Using
KeyCite
Finding a database
Using the Table of Contents service
Searching for regulatory guidance
The Search Center allows you to search for documents using a Terms and Connectors or Natural Language search, find a document using its citation or a partial citation, use KeyCite to check a citation, access tables of contents for statutes and regulations, and search for regulatory guidance documents.
A federated search allows you to conduct a comprehensive search of regulatory materials using either the Terms and Connectors or Natural Language search method. You can select the type of material you want to retrieve with your search by selecting specific document types and jurisdictions. To run a federated search, follow these steps:
Select a search method.
To run a Terms and Connectors search, click the Terms and Connectors tab, if necessary.
To run a Natural Language search, click the Natural Language tab.
Type a Terms and Connectors query or Natural Language description in the Search text box.
If desired, restrict your search to specific jurisdictions by selecting the appropriate text boxes under Limit by Jurisdiction.
If desired, restrict your search to specific sources by selecting the appropriate check boxes under Limit by Source. If you do not select a source, you will search all regulatory content.
Click Search.
To search for a document using part of its citation, click the Find by Partial Citation tab and follow these steps:
Type the citation information, e.g., a section number such as 101, in the Enter the Section Number of a Citation text box.
Restrict your search to a specific jurisdiction by selecting it from the Select a Jurisdiction drop-down list.
Restrict your search to a specific topic (e.g., Property and Casualty) by selecting it from the Select a Topic drop-down list.
Click Go.
All applicable statutes or regulations with that term in their citations will be listed in the search result.
To retrieve a document using its full citation, click the Find by Citation tab and type the citation (e.g., 31 U.S.C.A. 101) in the Find by Citation text box. Then click Go.
You can use KeyCite to view the history of a case, statute, administrative decision, or regulation to help determine whether it is good law and to retrieve citing references. KeyCite information is available for every case in West’s National Reporter System; more than 1 million unpublished cases; federal statutes and regulations; statutes from all 50 states; administrative decisions from selected federal agencies; and regulations and administrative decisions from selected states.
Access KeyCite using one of the following methods:
Click the KeyCite tab and type the citation (e.g., 42 U.S.C.A. 18001) in the KeyCite a Citation text box. Then click Go.
Click the KeyCite status flag in a document header or next to a document’s citation
Click History, or Full History, or Citing References on the Links tab in the left frame while viewing a document.
For a detailed explanation of KeyCite, please read "Using KeyCite."
Click the Find a database tab to access
Accessing a database by typing an identifier or name
To search for a particular database, type a database identifier (e.g., ffin-cs) or a database name (e.g., federal finance and banking cases) in the Enter a database text box. Then click Go.
When you access a database by typing its name, a list of databases that most closely match the name may be displayed. To access a database, click the database name, or select its check box and click OK.
You can access multiple databases simultaneously. Type up to 10 database identifiers separated by commas or semicolons in the Enter a database text box and click Go.
Accessing a recent database
The Recent Databases feature maintains a list of the 20 databases you have most recently accessed. (Multiple databases accessed simultaneously are treated as one database.) Choose a database from the Recent Databases drop-down list. The Search page for that database is displayed.
Accessing a favorite database
The Favorite Databases feature lets you save an unlimited number of databases and groups of databases that you search frequently. (Multiple databases saved as a group are treated as one database.) Choose a database from the Favorite Databases drop-down list. The Search page for that database is displayed.
To save a favorite database, follow these steps:
Choose Add to Favorites from the Favorite Databases drop-down list. The Add to Favorite Databases List page is displayed.
Type a name for the entry, e.g., FDIC Letters, in the Entry Name text box.
Type the identifiers for the databases you want to save in the Database(s) text box. For example, type ffin-fdicfil,ffin-fdicil to save the FDIC Financial Institution Letters and FDIC Interpretive Letters databases for a multiple-database search.
Click Add Favorite. The entry name for the databases you added is displayed in the Favorite Databases list.
For a list of suggested favorite databases by topic, see Suggested Compliance Databases.
Using the Table of Contents Service
Accessing the table of contents
The Table of Contents service allows you to browse the table of contents for a publication, view a document in the context of the sections surrounding it, and quickly retrieve related sections. The Table of Contents service contains the tables of contents for frequently used publications such as the USCA, CFR, and state statutes and constitutions, court rules, and administrative codes. There are two ways to access the Table of Contents service.
Click the Table of Contents tab in the Search Center and browse the list by clicking the plus (+) and minus (–) symbols. To view the table of contents for a publication in the list, e.g., United States Code Annotated, click its link.
From a displayed document in split-page view, click Table of Contents on the Links tab in the left frame. The portion of the table of contents referencing the document is displayed in the right frame. In full-page view, click Links for..., then click Table of Contents. The portion of the table of contents referencing the document is displayed across the full width of the page.
Browsing and searching the table of contents for a publication
To browse the table of contents for a publication, click the plus and minus symbols. To retrieve a specific section, click its link. The full text of the section is displayed in the right frame.
To retrieve more than one section of a publication, or whole titles, chapters, or subchapters, follow these steps:
While viewing the table of contents for a publication, select the check boxes in front of the titles, chapters, subchapters, or sections you want to retrieve.
Click Search at the bottom of the page. A list of the sections you selected is displayed in the TOC selection(s) box.
If you want to retrieve only those sections that contain specific terms, type the terms in the Add search terms and connectors text box. Use connectors to specify the relationship between terms, as you would with a Terms and Connectors query.
If you are searching the table of contents for the CFR, the USCA, or California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, or Texas statutes, you can retrieve the versions of the sections that were effective on a specific date. Type the date in the Search sections effective on text box, or click the Calendar icon to select the date.
Click Search to display your result.
Searching for regulatory guidance
You can search for summaries of the law, state guidelines, practice manuals, and other useful sources of information. Click the Regulatory Guidance tab when you want to find a quick answer to a question, a summary of the law, an explanation of procedures or policies, or current information on new developments.
To search for regulatory guidance, type a Natural Language description in the Enter a query text box. Select content to search from the Select a Collection drop-down list, and click Go.
Information sources for Consumer Banking
Information sources for Mortgage Banking
Information Sources for Life and Annuities
Information Sources for Property and Casualty
Information Sources for Accident and Health
Information Sources for Health Care