Which approach uses the official title or topic heading to locate statutes?

• A. Descriptive word approach
• B. Title/topic approach
• C. Popular name approach
• D. Chronological approach

Answer: (B)

The approach that relies on the official title or topic heading to locate statutes is the title/topic approach. This method matches the way statutes are organized and labeled in the code, so knowing the exact official title or the broad topic lets you jump directly to the relevant portion and then drill down to the specific provisions. It’s the most reliable way because official titles and topic headings provide a consistent, standardized framework that stays relatively stable even as individual provisions are amended. This contrasts with descriptive word searching, which depends on variable wording; popular-name searching, which relies on colloquial labels that can differ by jurisdiction or era; and chronological searching, which hinges on dates rather than subject matter.