How is the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) organized?

The Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) is organized by subjects, which is pivotal for navigating the regulatory framework of federal law. Each title within the C.F.R. corresponds to a specific area of federal regulation, such as agriculture, labor, or education. These titles are further divided into parts and sections that cover specific regulatory topics and provisions within that subject area. This subject-based organization allows users to efficiently locate regulations pertinent to particular fields of interest or legal practice.

To illustrate, if someone is looking for regulations related to environmental protection, they would refer specifically to Title 40, which is dedicated to Protection of Environment. This systematic arrangement by subject matter helps in better understanding and applying federal regulations as it aligns closely with how laws and regulations are often categorized in practice.

Other methods of organization, such as by chronology, agencies, or geographical location, do not represent the framework of the C.F.R. The C.F.R. is not chronologically organized; it does not arrange regulations by the government agencies that issued them, nor does it categorize by geographic areas, making the subject-based organization the most appropriate and effective for legal referencing and application.