Tutt Library

Congressional Documents and Tracing Legislation

Tutt Library has Congressional documents dating from 1789; we do not have every document for every period of time. With a few exceptions, we have summaries of bills, House and Senate Documents and Reports, and Public Laws since 1789. Hearings before Congressional committees are available with some exceptions from 1965 to present. After 1993, hearings were received in microfiche and we have electronic access (via Congressional Universe) also. Other Congressional publications maybe available on the Internet.

If you are not familiar with how laws are made in the Congress, consult:

• Willett, Edward F. How Our Laws Are Made. Presented by Mr. Brooks. Bicentennial ed., 1789-1989, revised and updated by

• Edward F. Willett. Washington: GPO, 1990. 70 p.
  Ref. KF4945.Z9 W54 1990

For an overview of the types of publications that are produced by
Congress, see Congressional Universe. Click on Overview

GENERAL INFORMATION

For information about a particular bill or law (ex. bill numbers and/or the public law number), find as much background information about your legislation as possible, including what it does and the pros and cons of the legislation:

• Congressional Universe
  Major bills introduced into Congress or recently passed bills with legislative history. This site also includes current issues reported in the New York Times, Washington Post, and L.A. Times; National Journal, 1977- and Congress Daily, 1991- are available full text.

• Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 1945- . (REF. JK1.C66)
  This annual publication is divided into chapters, each covering the legislation for the year in a major subject such as foreign policy, housing and urban affairs, and law and justice. Each subject is further subdivided into specific legislation. Look in the table of contents or the index under the subject you are interested in. Make note of the year, Congress number and session, bill numbers and public law numbers (if any).

• Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, 1950- . PERIODICALS)
  Referred to as CQ Weekly. Weekly news magazine that reports Congressional committee and floor activities including important votes for major legislation. Provides summary of provisions of important legislation, Presidential support, interest group activity, interest group ratings of members of Congress, and other voting studies. {Also indexed in PAIS.}

• National Journal, 1977- . (PERIODICALS and Congressional Universe) Weekly news magazine of politics and government including all three branches of government with six to ten major articles per issue. While it covers many of the same topics as CQ Weekly, for each subject it gives a more comprehensive summary and background report on an irregular basis rather than reporting developments week by week. Reports Presidential and interest group activity. Semiannual cumulative index for personal names, private organizations, Congressional committees, government agencies, and subjects. Has its own index. {Also indexed in PAIS.}

• Congressional Digest, 1921- . (PERIODICALS)
  Monthly non-governmental publication that features a single political controversy in each issue, providing a general introduction and history, an overview of the current program or situation, and an outline of proposed legislation. Both sides of the controversy are presented in the "Pros and Cons" section, usually in the form of statements by Congressional and interest group representatives. Has its own index {also indexed in Reader’s Guide and PAIS}.

• Congressional Quarterly’s Politics in America, 1990- (REF. JK1012.C 67).
  Members of Congress in Washington and at home. For each state, provides profiles of the Governor, Senators, Representatives. For both Senators and Representatives gives information on committee assignments, recent elections, key votes during the last session of Congress, and interest group ratings. Politics in America also gives data on campaign finances.

• Major Legislation of the Congress, 1983-1992. (DOCS INDEXES)
  Provides overview of Congressional and Presidential activity by major subject area and a list of major legislation in each area.

• Zwirn, Jerrold. Congressional Publications and Proceedings: Research on Legislation, Budgets, and Treaties. 2nd ed. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1988. 299 pp. (DOCS INDEXES)
  Covers the legislative process and the documents that result from each step in the process. Discusses background research by support organizations, hearings, committee reports, debate, voting, bills, resolutions, the budget process, and treaties. For general information prior to 1921, use the **New York Times* newspaper or other sources.

REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORS, COMMITTEES, and VOTING RECORDS

• Congressional Universe Click on Members. This databases covers 1988-. Available databases are: biographical, bill tracking by sponsor, key votes, floor statements, voting record, financial disclosures and campaign financial data, campaign contributions, and general information about committees, committee schedules, and rules of Congress.

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-1989.
  (REF. JK 101.A5 1989) Short biographies of members of the House and Senate.

• Congressional Directory, 1809- . Short biographies of each member, by state or district, and more.

• Project Vote Smart, 1989- . Voting records of members of Congress.

FINDING CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS

• GPO’s U.S. Government Catalog DOCS. This catalog contains records from 1976 forward and many older items too, get call numbers to locate at Tutt Library or link online.

• Congressional Universe – Information published by and about the U.S. Congress. Available along with subject searching are:
1. Documents: bills and bill tracking, 1989-; hearing transcripts and submitted testimony, 1988-; committee reports, 1989-; selected committee prints, 1995-; Congressional documents, 1995-
2. Laws & Regulations: public laws, 1988-; Federal Register, 1980-; Code of Federal Regulations, current; U.S. Code, current;
3. News/Records of Congress: Congressional Record, 1985-; National Journal, 1977-; Congress Daily, 1991-; member information (voting records, key votes, committee membership, financial disclosure, campaign financial data and contributions); and Congressional rules.

Note the SuDocs call numbers so you can find the publications without full text in our collection if we have them. The paper equivalent is the CIS INDEX AND ABSTRACTS, 1970-1996 (DOCS INDEXES, WEST WALL). Find the SuDocs call number and look for the publication in the paper or microfiche collection.

• GPO Access – wide range of U.S. government databases
  Congressional databases include: Congressional Directory, 1995- ; Congressional Record, 1994- ; Congressional Record Index, 1983- ; Congressional Reports, 1995- ; History of Bills, 1983- ; Public Laws, 1995- .

• Monthly Catalog of the United States Government Publications, 1895-1976. (DOCS GP 3.8)
  Lists Congressional hearings and reports and departmental documents. Use the annual index at the end of each year (found in the front or back of single vols.) to search by subject and name. Before 1947 the number reference in the index is to a page number. After 1947 the reference is to a citation number. Note the DOCS call number for hearings or prints (Y 4.), bill numbers, Report and Document numbers including Congress and session numbers (ex. 101st Congress, 1st Session).

• Congressional Record [title varies], 1789- . (DOCS ENCLOSED AREA, 1789-1899; and DOCS X)
  Official record of the floor debates and votes of Congress. The “Senate Bills and Resolutions” and “House Bills and Resolutions” sections at the end of each year’s index volume are arranged by bill number.
  Provides short title and notes sponsor, committee assigned, reports, amendments, House "rules," conferences, conference reports, votes, Presidential action, and the appropriate pages of the Record in which these items are discussed.
  The “History of Bills Enacted into Public Law” at the back of the each year’s “Daily Digest” volume is arranged by public law number and gives the bill number that was passed and its companion bill in the other chamber (if there was one), committees assigned, and date and number of House and Senate reports.
  See Congressional Universe and The Monthly Catalog of the U.S. Government Publications indexes to locate hearings and their DOCS call
  numbers. To locate the House and Senate Reports and Documents for each bill, note the citation (H. Rept. 365, 98th Congress, Second Session) and then locate the Serial Set volume in which the report has been placed. (See section below: “Serial Set” Numbers for House and Senate Documents and Reports.") For the full text of a bill see section below: “Bills”

BILLS

Use these sources to find who sponsored the bill in each chamber, when the bill was introduced in each chamber, the text of the House and Senate bills, and their numbers:

• Congressional Universe
  Full text of bills and bill tracking is available from 1989 -. Choose any of the bill databases. If full text is not available, use the Congressional Record or Digest of Public General Bills and Resolutions in paper (described below) for a summary of the bill.

• GPO Access
  Full text of bills from 1993 – . Choose one of the “Congressional Bills” databases

• Bills and Resolutions, current four years. (DOCS MICROFICHE Y 1.4/nos:)
  Full text of all proposed bills and resolutions for each Congress. Your bill may be located by using the paper Cumulative Finding Aid which an be found on shelves facing the microfiche cabinets. Included are: Senate Bills (S.) (DOCS microfiche Y 1.4/1:); Senate Resolutions (S.Res.) (DOCS microfiche Y 1.4/2:); Senate Joint Resolutions (S.J.Res.) (DOCS microfiche Y 1.4/3:); Senate Concurrent Resolutions (S.Con.Res.) (DOCS microfiche Y 1.4/4:); House Bills (H.R.) (DOCS microfiche Y 1.4/6:); House Resolutions (H.Res.) (DOCS microfiche Y 1.4/7:); House Joint Resolutions
  (H.J.Res.) (DOCS microfiche Y 1.4/8:); House Concurrent Resolutions (H.Con.Res.) (DOCS microfiche Y 1.4/9:). Look up your bill number in this index. To the right of each bill number is the fiche number where the bill appears. In the microfiche cabinet, 1) Locate the correct DOCS number for your type of bill (H.R. House Bills = Y 1.4/5:) 2) The correct Congress and Session (100th Congress, 2nd Session), and 3) Now look for the correct fiche number in the right hand corner of the microfiche. The bill should be on this piece of fiche. If you need a copy, take the fiche to the fiche copier located at the south end of the DOCS area.

• Congressional Record [title varies], 1789- . (DOCS ENCLOSED AREA, 1789-1899, DOCS X 1.1:1900-)
  The “Senate Bills and Resolutions” and “House Bills and Resolutions” sections at the end of each year’s index volume gives
  sponsor and action. The “History of Bills Enacted into Public Law” at the back of each year’s “Daily Digest” volume gives the bill number that was passed, its companion bill in the other chamber (if there was one), and when the bill was introduced.

• Digest of Public General Bills and Resolutions, 1946-1990. (DOCS INDEXES, WEST WALL) For each session of Congress, it gives a concise summary of provisions of public laws and other legislative measures and covers legislative history. Indexes for sponsors and cosponsors; short title; and subject.

COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND PRINTS

Hearings contain the testimony of people interested in a government program or initiative or in the passage or defeat of a bill—representatives of the administrative branch, members of Congress, state and local officials, interest group representatives, and others. Hearings are not held for every bill. Tutt Library has most hearings 1965 to present in paper or microfiche. Selected hearings are available via Congressional Universe from 1988- . GPO Access also has selected hearings. Earlier years must be requested from CU Boulder.

To locate call numbers for hearings on a bill, look at the following sources for the year that the legislation was introduced and for years after until the legislation was passed or dropped. Bills on the same topic must be reintroduced at the beginning of each new Congress (every two years) and will have different bill numbers.

• Congressional
  Universe
  Search by Subject (1970-), Title (1970-), or Text of Testimony (selected, 1988- ). If full text is not available, use the SuDocs call number to locate in the Tutt collection. Or use the CIS Index and Abstracts, 1970- (DOCS INDEXES, WEST WALL) to find the SuDocs call number. Then look for the publication in the paper or microfiche Docs collection.

• Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, 1895- (DOCS G 3.8)
  See description under “Finding Congressional Legislative Documents” above. Search by the subject of the legislation. When you find the hearing(s) or committee print(s) you want, note the DOCS call numbers (Y 4.). Look for these call numbers in the paper and microfiche collections.

HOUSE AND SENATE DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Documents and Reports of a committee include committee roll call votes, if there were any. They describe the purpose of the bill and the reasons the Committee recommends approval, cost estimates, any executive request about the bill, the text of changes in existing laws, and Committee amendments to the original bill.

• Congressional Universe
  use “Text of Documents”, 1995- and “Text of Reports”, 1990- to a topic. If you don’t know the committee, choose “Any committee”. Enter a Congress number (date) if your topic is broad.

• GPO Access
  Click on "Search GPO Access" and scroll down the list of databases to “Congressional Documents”, 1995- or “Congressional Reports”, 1995- . Choose the date of the database you want to search and enter search terms. Help with constructing searches is in the paragraph above the query box.

• Paper and microfiche Documents and Reports are collated after several years in bound volumes of the Serial Set. (DOCS ENCLOSED AREA and DOCS)
  Serial Set volumes from 1979 – have the Reports and Documents in chronological order by series, so they are easily located with Congress and Report/Document numbers. From 1789 – 1978 Reports and Documents are placed in the Serial Set volumes somewhat randomly and you will need to locate the volume number using the Checklist, 1789-1910 and Numerical Lists and Schedule of Volumes, 1910-1980 described below (after 1980 you can go directly to the Serial Set.)

• U.S. Serial Set Index, 1789-1969. (DOCS INDEXES)
  Arranged in four time periods, 3 vols. each, by broad subject headings. Use the first two subject volumes in each group to look for your topic. Each citation includes the Serial Set volume number (e.g., H.Ex doc.256 (41-2) 1425 = House Executive Document number 256, 41st Congress, 2nd session, Serial Set number 1425). Serial Set nos. 1-5216 are located in the DOCS ENCLOSED AREA, and nos. 5217- are in DOCS.

• Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, 1895- (DOCS INDEXES)
  See description under “Finding Congressional Legislative Documents” above. Search by the subject of the legislation. When you find the Report or Document you want, note the type of Report or Document and Congress (also session if available). Use the Checklist, 1789-1910, (see below) or the Numerical Lists and Schedule of Volumes (see below) to locate the Serial Set volume into which the Report or Document has been bound.

• Numerical Lists and Schedule of Volumes, 1933-1980. (DOCS INDEXES)

• U.S. Congressional Serial Set Catalog, 1981 to present.
  Arranged by Congress, then by chamber and report or document. Gives Congressional Serial Set number in which appropriate report can be found. Serial Set nos. 1-5216 are located in the DOCS ENCLOSED AREA, and nos. 5217- are in DOCS.

• Checklist of U.S. Public Documents 1789-1910. (DOCS INDEXES)
  The first half of this book is a chronological list of Congressional publications including the Serial Set volume number in which they appear. Listing is by Congress and Session. Use this source when you have a House or Senate Document or Report number from a particular Congress. Locate the Congress and session (if available), then find the Report or Document number and note the Serial Set volume number in the left column in bold type. Serial Set nos. 1-5216 are located in the DOCS ENCLOSED AREA, and nos. 5217- are in DOCS.

DEBATE AND CONFERENCE ACTION:

The following sources will provide information about “rules” in the House, whether there was floor debate, whether there was a conference committee and report, votes, and related questions:

• Congressional Universe
  Use “Congressional Record” Or use the CIS INDEX AND ABSTRACTS, 1970 – 1996 (DOCS INDEXES). Find the Congressional Record citation and use the paper copy in the Docs Enclosed area and Docs (X 1).

• GPO Access, 1983-
  From the database list select the “Congressional Record Index” (more years are accessable) or the “Congressional Record”. If you use the Index, you will just get page numbers to the Congressional Record; to search full text use “Congressional Record”.. Brief searching instructions are in the paragraph above the search query box. Additional search examples can be found by clicking on the "Help" button at the bottom of the page.

• Congressional Record [title varies], 1789- . (DOCS ENCLOSED AREA 1789-1899 and DOCS X 1.1:1900-)
  Official record of the floor debates and votes of Congress. The "Senate Bills and Resolutions" and "House Bills and Resolutions" sections at the end of each year’s index volume give House "rules," debate, conferences, conference reports, votes, and the appropriate pages of the Record in which these items are discussed.

PRESIDENTIAL ACTION AND PUBLIC LAWS

• Congressional Universe
  Choose “Public Laws” or “Laws by Number” depending upon the information you have about the law that was passed. If you don’t find the public law, you may want to go back to the Histories or Bill Tracking database to track the fate of your bill. Search the Congressional Record for veto messages from the President.

CIS INDEX AND ABSTRACTS, 1970 – 1996 (DOCS INDEX, West Wall). See Legislative Histories for Public Law numbers.

• GPO Access
  Use the “Public Laws” database.

• Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, 1965- .
  (DOCS AE 2.109) – Statements, messages, and press conferences of the President on many subjects, including legislation. Annual and quarterly index.

• Congressional Record [title varies], 1789- .
  (Online; DOCS ENCLOSED AREA 1789-1899 and DOCS X 1.1:1900-) – Official record of the floor debates and votes of Congress. Also includes veto messages from the President. The Senate Bills and Resolutions; and House Bills and Resolutions; sections at the end of each year’s index volume give Presidential action and the appropriate pages of the Record in which this is discussed.

• United States Statutes at Large, 1789- . (DOCS AE )
  Full text of all laws enacted in each Congress. Arranged in numerical order, so if you know the law number (P.L.#) you don’t need to use the index because it is noted on each page. If you don’t know the law number, use the index in each volume. Laws from 1789-1881 are on microfiche and filed at the end of the microfiche hearings (Y 4). For the most recent bills, look at the slip laws (filed at end of Statutes in boxes).

• Major Legislation of the Congress, 1980-1992. (DOCS INDEXES)
  Arranged by subject. Cites current and historical law on a topic.

See also

1. Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 1945-, (REF. JK1.C66);
2. Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, 1946- , (PERIODICALS)
3. National Journal, 1969- . (PERIODICALS and Congressional Universe)
4. Congress Daily, 1991 – (also on Congressional Universe