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The Topic and Key Number System

The Topic and Key Number System. Headnotes are Assigned to a Topic and Key Number. When West receives a slip opinion, a West attorney-editor reads it and identifies the points of law discussed in the case. Each point of law is summarized in a headnote.

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The Topic and Key Number System

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  1. The Topic and Key Number System

  2. Headnotes are Assigned to a Topic and Key Number • When West receives a slip opinion, a West attorney-editor reads it and identifies the points of law discussed in the case. • Each point of law is summarized in a headnote. • After a careful analysis of the point of law the headnote discusses, the headnote is assigned to at least one key number in the West Topic and Key Number System.

  3. Headnotes and the Topic and Key Number System Key Numbers Headnote This headnote summarizes a point of law discussed in this case. The headnote is assigned to key number 90.1(1.2) under Topic 92 (Constitutional Law). The same headnote is also assigned to a key number under Topic 361 (Statutes).

  4. The Topic and Key Number System is • the index to the entire National Reporter System • a comprehensive and detailed outlineof the entire body of case law in this country • a classification system with a at least one topic and key number attached to each point of law (headnote) The Topic and Key Number System allows you to locate cases with the same or similar legal issues in any jurisdiction in the United States.

  5. The approximately 400 topics are arranged alphabetically and numbered between 1 and 450. • Each topic addresses a broad legal issue. • Some topics have been added after the original 414 topics were assigned numbers • See 48A Automobiles and 48B Aviation • Other topics have been eliminated, renamed, or reorganized. (There is no longer a topic 3.)

  6. 92 Constitutional Law (Topic) 92V Personal, Civil and Political Rights (Sub-Heading) 92k90 Freedom of Speech and of the Press 92k90.1 Particular Expressions and Limitations 92k90.1(1.2) k. Election Regulations (Specific Key Number) • Each topic is broken down into subheadings. • There can be up to eight levels in the topic and key number hierarchy. • This process continues until further breakdown of a point of law is unproductive and a specific key number is assigned. See, 92k90.1(1.2) above. • There are approximately 100,000 specific key numbers.

  7. Topic number 92 Subheading 92k90 Specific Key Number The intermediate levels of the key number hierarchy are not present in the print version of this case, but they permit useful key number searches on Westlaw when the specific key number needed cannot be identified. For example, you can search for cases assigned to any specific key numbers under subheading 92k90.

  8. Question The Topic and Key Number System is • An index to National Reporter System cases • An outline of American law • A classification system • All of the above

  9. Question The Topic and Key Number System is • An index to National Reporter System cases • An outline of American law • A classification system • All of the above

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