Positive law titles
The United States Code is divided into subject matter titles. Some are "positive law" titles and some are "non-positive law" titles. The difference is this:
A positive law title of the United States Code is - itself - a Federal statute.
A non-positive law title of the United States Code is an editorial compilation of Federal statutes.
For example, title 10, United States Code, "Armed Forces", is a positive law title because the title, per se, has been explicitly enacted.
Alternatively, title 42, United States Code, "The Public Health and Welfare", is a non-positive law title. The Federal statutes set out editorially in title 42have been explicitly enacted, but title 42, per se, has not.
Provisions set out in non-positive law titles of the United States Code may vary slightly from the precise language enacted into law; cross references are adapted and stylistic changes are made in order to facilitate the integration of Federal statutory provisions into the United States Code. By contrast, a positive law title of the United States Code constitutes the precise statutory language enacted into law.