Constitution
Like its federal counterpart, the MA constitution is the primary governing document for the laws of Massachusetts.
The constitution is published in the Massachusetts General Laws and is also available online.
Legislation
Session laws are those laws enacted by a legislature during one session. They are published chronologically in bound volumes, and are also available online. This publication in Massachusetts is called Acts and Resolves. Some of these laws are eventually codified into a code called the General Laws of Massachusetts; here, they are arranged by subject for easier research. There are also two commercial versions of the Code, which include many helpful annotations to assist you in your research.
The annotated versions can also be found in WestlawNext and Lexis Advance.
Annotated Laws of Massachusetts (ALM) (Lexis)Call Number: KFM2430 1932 .A2- Massachusetts General Laws Annotated (MGLA) (West)Call Number: KFM2430 1958 .A42
- Acts and resolves passed by the General Court of Massachusetts.Call Number: KFM2425 .A213
- MassTrac This link opens in a new windowMassachusetts bill tracking service. It provides legislative history material for Massachusetts legislation from 1996 to present. It includes available information on bill versions, bill status, hearings, committee work, and news items of interest for various pieces of legislation.
Cases
- Massachusetts ReportsCall Number: KFM2445 .A2 LAW STACKSOfficial reporter for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the highest court in the state). Use the Massachusetts Digest to locate cases contained in these volumes.
- Massachusetts Appeals Court ReportsCall Number: KFM2448 .A2 LAW STACKSThe official reporter for the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Use the Massachusetts Digest to locate cases contained in these volumes.
- Northeastern Reporter (West)Call Number: KF135.N6 N63Contains decisions issued by the Supreme Judicial Court and the Appeals Court.
Administrative Law
- Massachusetts RegisterCall Number: KFM2436 .M35This publication includes new and amended regulations, proposed regulations up for public comment, and notices of public interest, as well as opinions of the Attorney General and Executive Orders.
- Code of Massachusetts RegulationsCall Number: KFM2435 1986 .A43ISBN: ISBN9780916812973This contains agency regulations that are currently in force.
Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries
A free online source for Masschusetts primary law, you can access Massachusetts General Laws, Acts and Resolves, the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, Massachusetts court cases, Rules of Court, Executive Orders, local ordinances, and historical documents.