LibGuides: Federal Legislative History: Starting Points

Types of Legislative History Documents

The variety of documents created in the federal legislative process can help explain how a bill came to be passed. This legislative history information may also help clarify vague or ambiguous statutory language.

Federal Legislative Process
Understanding the legislative process provides context.
Compiled Legislative Histories
Compiling a legislative history can be a time-consuming process, so it can be wise to see if a history has already been compiled, especially for significant legislation.
Federal Committee Reports
Usually considered the most important legislative documents, reports often contain more analysis than the other documents.
Federal Bills
May help determine legislative intent.
Federal Congressional Debate
May help determine legislative intent.
Federal Committee Hearings
May provide valuable background and factual information on the issue.
Other Federal Congressional Materials
Committee prints and documents and roll call votes may provide valuable background and factual information on the issue. Also includes links to budget information.
Presidential Signing Statements
Their role in legislative interpretation is debated.
Federal Legislative Current Awareness
Track current legislation.

Congresses

Years of Congress Reference Table
If you have a year when your law passed, this chart will tell you the Congress number for that year. If you have a Congress number, it will give you the years of that Congress.

Key Sources

The best source depends on your specific need, but the following sources are broadly useful.

Congress.gov This link opens in a new window
Official website for U.S. federal legislative information.
Congressional Publications (ProQuest) This link opens in a new window
An index of U.S. legislative information from the Congressional Information Service.
Congressional Publications Help Guides

Federal Legislative History: Starting Points

Types of Legislative History Documents

Congresses

Key Sources

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