Law & Legislation

What is the proper use of the subdivision Law and legislation?
Law and legislation the authorized free floating subdivision used to designate the legal aspect of topics and/or works that contain the text of laws on the topic.

The instruction sheet of Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings (SCM:SH), H1705 (Legal materials: Law and Legislation and Other Subdivisions) and H1145-H1200 (Subdivisions Controlled by Pattern Headings) provides guidelines for the usage of these legal subdivisions:

Law and legislation (May Subd Geog) .

Use this subdivision under topical headings for works about the legal aspects of the topic, and/or works that contain the text of laws on the topic. Code the subdivision $x. (H1750)

Examples of cataloging resources:

• Title: Accounting and tax principles for legal professionals.
• Subject: Accounting $x Law and legislation
• Title: The new information industry : regulatory challenges and the First Amendment.
• Subject: Information services $x Law and legislation

Usage instructions for Law and legislation can be seen from the Library of Congress Authority File:

• Record: sh 99004848
• Authorized subdivision: $x Law and legislation
• Note: Further subdivide by subdivisions used under legal topics.
• Scope note: Use as a topical subdivision under individual animals and groups of animals, individual chemicals and groups of chemicals, individual diseases and types of diseases, types of educational institutions, types of industries, individual materials and types of materials, individual plants and groups of plants, individual land vehicles and types of land vehicles, and individual wars.

Examples of cataloging resources:

• Title: Cancer and the law : a medical negligence guide.
• Subject: Cancer – Law and legislation.

• Title: Total war and the law : the American home front in World War II.
• Subject: World War, 1939-1945 $x Law and legislation $z United States.

• Title: Animal law and dog behavior.
• Subject: Dogs $x Law and legislation

• Title: Collegiate consumerism: contract law and the student-university relationship.
• Subject: Universities and colleges $x Law and legislation.

Unless established by LC, Law and legislation has been established under a pattern heading and is free-floating under headings governed by that pattern.

• For example: Cancer – Law and legislation.

To establish new uses of this subdivision need to submit proposals to Library of Congress for adding “law and legislation.”

Do not use –Law and legislation if:

• A.The topical heading itself is inherently or identified legal
  • Existing examples of usage of “Law and legislation” from LC Authority records:
  • Record: sh 85032446
    • Approved subject heading: Copyright
    • Use instead of: Copyright $x Law and legislation
  • Record: sh 677167
    • Approved subject heading: Intellectual property
    • Use instead of: Intellectual property $x Law and legislation
  • Record: sh 85026379
    • Approved subject heading: Human rights
    • Use instead of: Human rights $x Law and legislation

• B.A phrase heading exists for the topic of law, such as Agricultural laws and legislation, Medical laws and legislation, etc.
  • Examples from Authority Records
  • Record: sh 8500234
    • Approved subject heading: Agricultural laws and legislation
    • Use instead of: Agriculture $x Law and legislation
  • Record: sh 85082964
    • Approved subject heading: Medical laws and legislation
    • Use instead of: Medicine $x Law and legislation

• C. If the topical heading represents a group of people. In such cases, use the subdivision Legal status, laws, etc.
  • For example:
  • 650 0 Women – Legal status, laws, etc.
  • 650 0 College students — Legal status, laws, etc.

For the correct use of “Law and legislation” subdivision, see:

Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings (SCM:SH), H1705 (Legal materials: Law and Legislation and Other Subdivisions) and H1145-H1200 (Subdivisions Controlled by Pattern Headings.