The Office of the Law Revision Counsel (OLRC) is an agency of the United States House of Representatives responsible for preparing, publishing, and updating the United States Code, the codified collection of the general and permanent federal statutes of the United States. Established by the Law Revision Counsel Act of 1974 (Public Law 93‑154), the office operates under the authority of the House of Representatives and reports directly to the Speaker of the House.
Mandate and Functions
- Compilation and Codification – The OLRC examines enacted public laws, determines their proper placement within the existing code, and drafts revisions to reflect amendments, repeals, and re‑enactments.
- Publication – It produces the official printed edition of the United States Code and maintains the electronic version available through the Office of the Law Revision Counsel website (uscode.house.gov).
- Legal Research and Advisory Services – The office provides non‑binding legal opinions to congressional committees, members, and staff on matters relating to the organization, interpretation, and application of the Code.
- International and Comparative Work – The OLRC participates in cooperative projects with foreign legislative drafting bodies and contributes to the development of best practices for statutory codification.
Organizational Structure
The OLRC is headed by the Law Revision Counsel, who is appointed by the Speaker of the House with the approval of the House Committee on the Judiciary. The office comprises attorneys, legislative drafters, editors, and support personnel. Its headquarters are located in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Historical Context
Prior to the creation of the OLRC, the codification of federal statutes was performed by the Department of Justice and later by the Office of the Federal Register. The 1974 legislation transferred the responsibility to a dedicated congressional office to improve the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of the United States Code. Since its inception, the OLRC has overseen several major revisions, including the transition to the “positive law” titles (Titles 1–46) and the ongoing effort to maintain the Code as an up‑to‑date legal reference.
Publications and Resources
- United States Code (USC) – The official compilation of federal statutes, organized by subject matter into 54 titles.
- Statutes at Large – While not produced by the OLRC, the office references these primary sources for drafting and editorial decisions.
- Annual Reports – The OLRC submits reports to the House Committee on the Judiciary detailing its activities, planned revisions, and resource requirements.
Legal Status
The Office of the Law Revision Counsel is a non‑partisan entity; its work is intended to be purely legislative and administrative, without influence from executive or judicial branches. The United States Code produced by the OLRC is considered prima facie evidence of the law, though it may be superseded by later statutory enactments or judicial interpretation.
