READING AND NAVIGATING REGULATIONS

Table of Contents

• use the table of contents to locate regulations according to their subject area or according to their regulation number
• the table of contents is located at the front of the regulations document (in this case, the Act)
• the table of contents lists the titles of the sections contained in the regulations document, the subject addressed by the regulation, and the number of each regulation
• the table of contents is arranged according to the order in which the regulations appear in the regulations document (they are in numerical order)
• the table of contents provides an overview of all the regulations contained in the regulations document

Index

• the index (if there is one) is used to locate specific information (words, names, concepts, etc.) found in the regulations document
• the index is located at the end of the regulations document
• the index lists key words and phrases, and all of the pages on which each can be found
• the index is arranged alphabetically

Glossary (Definitions)

• the glossary defines terms used in the regulations
• the glossary usually addresses technical vocabulary and not “reg talk”
• the glossary provides the specific meanings of words according to how the words are actually used in the regulations
• the glossary is a good place to start for “teachable” vocabulary

Reg Talk

• “reg talk” is the terminology that appears in most regulations documents (the “legalese”)
• “reg talk” is the words and phrases that must be understood in order to understand any regulations document (e.g. shall, wherein, in accordance with, hereby, section repealed)

Roman Numerals

• many Canadians cannot read Roman numerals beyond the lowest levels, and there are usually Roman numerals in a set of regulations.
• the basic rules for reading Roman numerals are:
  • there can never be more than three i’s in a row (iii)
  • for most regulations documents, the key numerals are i, iv, v, x, xv, xx
    • i = 1
    • iv = 4
    • v = 5
    • x = 10
    • xv = 15
    • xx = 20
  • v, x, xv, xx are centerpoints – any number to the right of the centerpoint is added to the centerpoint number; any number to the left of the centerpoint is subtracted. For example: