Joseph Roberts
Finding a Topic
- Congress.gov This link opens in a new windowSince your legislative history needs to be a bill that has passed, do a search using keywords that describe a topic that interests you. Next, select "Became Law" under "Status of Legislation" in the left column. Choose a law from the results list and explore the Text, Actions, Amendments, Cosponsors, and Committees tabs. You will find much of the information needed for this assignment. If you want to limit your search to the past 15 years you could select those congresses under "Congresses" also in the left column.
- ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new windowSince your legislative history needs to be a bill that is passed you will need to identify a public law. So do a search using keywords that describe a topic that interests you. Select a date limit (optional). Look for "Public Law" under "Document Type" in the left column of the results list. You may have to click on "More options" at the bottom of the list to find it. Once you have clicked on a public law, make note of the bill number in the citation field of the record so you can look the bill up in Congress.gov or in ProQuest Congressional. See the "Finding Legislative Histories Box" below.
Finding Legislative Histories
- Congress.gov This link opens in a new windowThe default search is for current legislation, so if you are doing a legislative history you will need to change the dropdown box next to the search box to "All legislation." Next enter the congress number followed by the bill number with no space between them (e.g. 111HR2545). Find your bill on the list. Explore the tabs to find who sponsored the bill, committees, etc. Much of what is needed to complete a legislative history can be found here.
- ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new windowFind a legislative history by clicking "Search By Number" under Congressional Publications near the top of your screen. Select "Legislative Histories" under "Content Type". The legislative histories will include bill versions with the dates they were introduced as well as debates, hearings, and committee hearings.
Click on "Retrieve Bill Profile" to the right of "Enacted Bill" to find other information required for a legislative history. Explore the following tabs in the database, Actions, Committees, Sponsors, Floor Votes, Related Publications, and Bill Text.
You can also do a keyword search using terms that describes your policy issue. Results will include hearings, reports, the Congressional Record, and committee prints.
Finding Votes in Committees
- Congress.govTo find votes in committees you will need to find the committee report. Find your legislation and look for a link to the report in the "Related Documents" column of the "Committee" tab. Download the pdf of the report and look for "Committee Votes" in the table of contents. When you find the committee votes it may say something like, no recorded votes were requested.
Finding Presidential Comments
- ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new windowClick on "Congressional Publications" above the search box, and then "Search by Number". Find the legislative history for the bill. Select "Legislative History" in the left column of the results list under "Content Type". Once you find the Legislative History, click on "Miscellaneous Other Publications". If the president has made remarks the signing date will be listed there. Make note of the date and use the "Compilation of Presidential Documents" link below to find the remarks.
- Compilation of Presidential DocumentsPresidential papers from 1993 to the present.
Congressional Calendars
Finding the Calendars
- Congress.govThe Actions tab of the Congress.gov legislative history may include the date a piece of legislation to a given calendar. If you don't find it here, go to govinfo linked below. Follow the directions below the link.
- govinfoThe Actions tab of the Congress.gov legislative history may include the date a piece of legislation to a given calendar. If you don't find it their, follow these directions. Go to the advanced search select "Congressional Calendars" under "Refine by Collection" and enter the bill number, in quotes ("S. 141") in the search box. This will result in a list of calendars. Click on the "pdf" button on the results list and use CNTRL F to search the document. The results will indicate what congress the calendar is from allowing you to determine which results will be more relevant. Unfortunately, not all of the results on the list will be relevant.
- Congressional Calendars Search Tips: govinfoInformation about the congressional calendars and tips on searching them using govinfo.
- Congressional CalendarsBrowse the Congressional Calendars from the 104th Congress (1995) to the present.
About the Calendars and What Goes on Them
- How Our Laws Are Made: CalendarsDefines each calendar and explains what goes on them. Information provided by Congress.gov.
Finding the Text of Public Laws
- United States Statutes at LargeThis is the official record of bills passed by the legislative branch which is arranged in chronological order. This print source contains a number of useful finding aids. There is a subject index in the back, and you will find references to reports associated with the bill at the end of the text for the public law. The most recent edition we have is from 2012.
Note: Also see the "Finding Legislative Histories" box above for the full text of public laws.