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Government Information for 20c Politics History: Congressional Resources

Why use Congressional Information?

Congressional information can be a great source if you are interested in looking at specific bills or laws, or if you are looking to understand the intent behind a law, or if you are looking for background information, data and statistics on a variety of issues and topics.

Federal Legislation and Regulations

Congressional Hearings

A hearing is a meeting or session of a Senate, House, joint, or special committee of Congress used to obtain information and opinions on proposed legislation, an investigation, and more. Hearing publications contain data and testimonies from external experts, researchers, and organizations and can be a valuable resource for researching various issues and topics. 

Congressional Record

Official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.

Debates for sessions prior than 1873 can be found under the following titles

  • Annals of the Congress of the United States: 1st-18th Congresses (1789-1824)
  • Register of Debates in Congress: 18th congress 1st session - 25th Congress 1st session (1824-1837)
  • Congressional Globe: 23rd through 42nd Congresses (1833-1873) 

 

Serial Sets

The Serial Set contains the House and Senate Documents and the House and Senate Reports. The reports are usually from congressional committees dealing with proposed legislation and issues under investigation. The documents include all other papers ordered printed by the House or Senate. Documents cover a wide variety of topics and may include reports of executive departments and independent organizations, reports of special investigations made for Congress, and annual reports of non-governmental organizations. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, executive-branch materials were also published in the Serial Set.

Congressional Research Services (CRS)

Nonpartisan public policy research institute of the United States Congress staffed by experienced researchers, economists, policy analysts and statisticians. Works primarily and directly for members of Congress and their committees to provide information.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Nonpartisan agency that provides economic data to Congress. Information published by CBO often contains economic impacts of proposed enacted legislation

Congressional research guides and sources