North Carolina Legal Research  

Law takes many forms. The North Carolina Constitution provides a broad framework for the operation of state government.  Session laws enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly are codified in the General Statutes.  Court decisions offer interpretations of the law. Rules established by state agencies as authorized by the legislature have the force of law. On the local level, county or city ordinances also regulate citizens’ actions. This guide lists the major sources one can use to conduct basic legal research on the state and local level. For additional information, see:

• North Carolina Legal Research Guide
  NoCar KFN7475 .M38 1994
• An Introduction to Law for North Carolinians
  NoCar KF387 .T46 2000
  Also available electronically at: http://ncinfo.iog.unc.edu/pubs/electronicversions/pdfs/introlaw.pdf