A regulation is a statement of an agency's rules as published in the Federal Register and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. As authorized by Congress, under federal law, the Railroad Retirement Board may prescribe such rules and regulations as is necessary or appropriate to carry out its functions. Legally, these rules have the "force and effect of law." Listed below are the rules and regulations recently passed and proposed. A brief description and a link to the applicable section of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) or U. S. Code (U.S.C.) is provided.