This variable simply separates the issues identified in the preceding variable (issue) into the following larger categories: criminal procedure (issues 10010–10600), civil rights (issues 20010–20410), First Amendment (issues 30010–30020), due process (issues 40010–40070), privacy (issues 50010–50040), attorneys’ or governmental officials’ fees or compensation (issues 60010–60040), unions (issues 70010–70210), economic activity (issues 80010–80350), judicial power (issues 90010–90520), federalism (issues 100010–100130), interstate relation (issues 110010–110030), federal taxation (issues 120010–120040), miscellaneous (issues 130010–130020), and private law (issues 140010–140080).

The contents of these issue areas are both over- and under-specified; especially those of largest size: criminal procedure, civil rights,and economic activity. In the interests of precision, users focusing on this variable would be wise to specify the components of a specific issue area that their analyses include or exclude.

Note that some of the issues in an issue area will have a distinctive direction at variance from the issue area’s overall direction. E.g., the liability variables 80060, 80070, and 80080. See decision direction.