GOV 309: The Congress

I. REFERENCE SOURCES

Encyclopedia of the American Legislative System (3 vols.)

Ref. Balcony JF 501 .E53 1994

Congressional Quarterly Almanac (CQ)

Ref. Balcony JK 1 .C663 1961 - present
Provides a summary of legislative activity in Congress for a given year. Each volume begins with an overview of the particular congress, with the major accomplishments highlighted. The following chapters discuss the debate and passage of legislation in 9 broad areas (e.g., economy, defense, foreign policy, appropriations). Roll call charts for the bills are included, as are voting studies, presidential messages, and public laws.

Congressional Directory, 2005-2006: 109th Congress

Ref. Desk JK 1011 2005-06
Also available on GPO Access.

Congressional Pictorial Directory: 109th Congress

Ref. Desk JK 1011 .A32
Also available on GPO Access.

Almanac of American Politics 2006

Ref. Balcony JK 1012 .A44 2006 (older volumes in the stacks)
Provides a detailed look at members of Congress and their districts; includes voting records and election results.

CQ's Politics in America 2006: The 109th Congress

Ref. Balcony JK 1012 .C63 2006 (older volumes in the stacks)
Similar to the above title with slightly more analysis.

Congressional Quarterly's Guide to Congress, 5th Ed. (2 vols.)

Ref. Balcony JK 1021 .C565 2000
Encyclopedia coverage of the work of Congress.

Congress and the Nation, 2001-2004: Politics and Policy in the 107th and 108th Congresses

Ref. Balcony JK 1021 .C6 Vol. 11 (with 10 previous volumes)
Detailed summary and analysis of the work of specific congresses.

Congress A to Z, 4th Ed.

Ref. Balcony JK 1021 .C554 2003
A good dictionary of terms and concepts.

Committees in the U. S. Congress, 1789-1946 (4 vols.)

Ref. Balcony JK 1029 .C64 2002

Committees in the U. S. Congress, 1947-1992

Ref. Balcony JK 1029 .N45 1993

Directory of Congressional Voting Scores and Interest Group Ratings, 3rd Ed. (2 vols.)

Ref. Balcony JK 1051 .S555 2000

Encyclopedia of the United States Congress (4 vols.)

Ref. Balcony JK 1067 .E63 1995

Congressional Districts in the 2000s: A Portrait of America

Ref. Balcony JK 1341 .C65 2003

II. BILLS, LAWS, HEARINGS, AND SPEECHES

Congressional Bills

Bills from 1993 to the present are available on GPO Access.

United States Statutes at Large

Ref. Balcony KF 50 .U52 (1893 - )
This is the first permanent form of federal laws. One or more volumes are compiled for each legislative session. Recent laws are issued in "slip" format, arranged by Public Law number. Public Laws from 1995 to the present are available on GPO Access.

United States Code

Ref. Balcony KF 62 1992 .A2
This is the official codification of all federal laws, divided into 50 subject areas (or titles). Specific subject indexing is included, as well as a listing of the laws by popular names. Also available on GPO Access.

Congressional Committee Hearings

U.S. Doc. Y4 ....
Printed transcripts of hearings before House and Senate committees on a variety of topics. Recent hearings are also available online through GPO Access.

Congressional Record

U.S. Doc. X/A ....(1921 - present in paper; 1873-1921 on microfilm
Daily transcripts of speeches and remarks delivered on the floor of the House and Senate. The CR is also available online, from 1994 to the present, through GPO Access.

III. ELECTRONIC RESOURCES

GPO Access

A service of the US Government Printing Office and the Superintendent of Documents, this provides access to a wealth of current government information. It includes online access to Presidential documents, public laws, Supreme Court opinions, and federal regulations.

Thomas (Library of Congress)

The Library of Congress' electronic access to legislative information: bills, public laws, and committees.

CQ Weekly Reports

This publication updates the CQ Almanac with a weekly reporting and analysis of congressional activity. Provides text and summaries of major legislation. This is the best source for tracking the progress of a bill in congress and contains charts for "Bills to Watch" and "Status of Appropriations").

Lexis-Nexis

Connections to full-text newspaper articles (including the New York Times), business information, and legal resources.

Congressional Universe

Access to publications of the US Congress - indexing, abstracting, and some full-text of committee hearings, reports, bills, and public laws.

Social Sciences Full Text

Indexes and abstracts over 400 English-language periodicals in all areas of the social sciences, including politics and economics.

PAIS International (Public Affairs Information Service Bulletin)

Comprehensive subject index to periodical articles, books, government publications, and reports relating to economic and social conditions, public administration and global relations. Coverage is from 1972 to the present; updated monthly. An archival database, covering 1915-1976, is also available.

GPO Monthly Catalog

An index of all federal government publications from 1976 to the present.