The Federal Register: Origins, formulation, realization, and heritage

The Federal Register Act statutorily mandated an official gazette for the Federal Government to provide better accountability for administrative regulations, rules, and orders, and greater transparency in the creation of such law. The later establishment of the Code of Federal Regulations and the enactment of the Administrative Procedure Act added enhancement and incentives to the original act. The National Archives and Record Administration recently celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of this publication. The overview of the origins, development, and legacy of the Federal Register provided here was prepared as a background text for an invited lecture by the author at National Archives headquarters marking the creation of the Register and its heritage.

Research Highlights
► This overview examines the establishment of the Federal Register.
► The analysis considers the origins of the gazette.
► The formulation and realization of the Register’s legal mandate is explored.
► The assessment concludes with a consideration of the gazette’s heritage and progeny.