Do questions about congressional research make you wish you had paid more attention in civics class in high school? Have no fear, while researching (or helping others research) the activities of our Congress may seem daunting, it really isn't once you know the basics and a few tricks. This webinar will break down the types of Congressional information that are out there, discuss what types of information they contain and provide strategies for helping researchers find and use them.
Rosalind Tedford is the Director for Research and Instruction at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library at Wake Forest University. She earned her BA in English and Psychology as well as her MA in English from Wake Forest and an MLIS from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In addition to managing the research and instruction programs at Wake Forest she teaches for-credit information literacy courses and is the liaison to both the Political Science and Communication departments. She has presented at LOEX, ACRL, ALA and regional conferences on issues ranging from copyright to technology trends to information literacy.
Administrative Legal Research IntroductionNeal Axton
Administrative Legal Research Presentation given to Advanced Legal Research Class at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 13, 2013 by Neal R. Axton, JD, MLIS.
Administrative Legal Research IntroductionNeal Axton
Administrative Legal Research Presentation given to Advanced Legal Research Class at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 13, 2013 by Neal R. Axton, JD, MLIS.
Presentation given at the American Library Association Midwinter Conference, Seattle WA, January 2013. Discusses the ZSR Library (Wake Forest University) implementation of Serial Solution's Summon search product.
Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2
Immigration Judge Pelletier Unaccompanied Children Asylum ClaimsBryan Johnson
Since 2014, the Board of Immigration Appeals remanded Immigration Judge Dan Pelletier a total of 8 times specifically for denying unaccompanied alien children right to apply for asylum before USCIS as mandated by the 2008 Trafficking and Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
For example, Korowai Tribe Indonesia lives with its unic characteristics which make this tribe looks different. Lost in Papua is the commercial Indonesian film showing Korowai tribe - one of Indonesian tribe, lives in Irian Jaya/Papua - unic characteristics. Although the film shows an imaginative story of Korowai, but some of Korowai's unic characteristic are presented through this film, such as the way they wear clothes, the way they live their life, etc.
San IGNACIO DE ANTIOQUIA DISCIPULO NADA ,MENOS QUE DE SAN JUAN Y SAN PABLO, FUE ORDENADO OBISPO POR LOS APOSTOLES, , EN SUCESION APOSTOLICA SEGUN LA TRADICION .
SINTESIS DE SUS SIETE CARTAS DOCTRINALES , FUE QUIEN NOMBRA A LA IGLESIA POR PRIMERA VEZ ! CATOLICA ! POR SU MISION Y SENTIDO UNIVERSAL.
Live Events and Content: The Perfect PairDoubleDutch
Live events play a huge role in engaging prospects at every stage of the customer journey—but marketers rarely consider that these events also serve as a wellspring of ideas and behavioral insights from your buyer’s that can impact an entire content marketing program.
Learn how Hana Abaza, Head of Strategy at Uberflip, and her team measure the impact of their event content, uncover a wealth of new ideas, and inform their entire marketing strategy with actionable insights drawn from their inaugural event: The Uberflip Experience.
State Constitutions: Current, Historical, and How They ChangeAshley Ahlbrand
This was a presentation for the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries, presented on July 14, 2013.
The presenters were Ashley Ahlbrand, Jennifer Morgan, and Cindy Dabney of Indiana University's Maurer School of Law. Michelle Cosby, of North Carolina Central University School of Law, moderated.
Presentation given at the American Library Association Midwinter Conference, Seattle WA, January 2013. Discusses the ZSR Library (Wake Forest University) implementation of Serial Solution's Summon search product.
Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2 Electrical electronic aptitude test 2
Immigration Judge Pelletier Unaccompanied Children Asylum ClaimsBryan Johnson
Since 2014, the Board of Immigration Appeals remanded Immigration Judge Dan Pelletier a total of 8 times specifically for denying unaccompanied alien children right to apply for asylum before USCIS as mandated by the 2008 Trafficking and Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
For example, Korowai Tribe Indonesia lives with its unic characteristics which make this tribe looks different. Lost in Papua is the commercial Indonesian film showing Korowai tribe - one of Indonesian tribe, lives in Irian Jaya/Papua - unic characteristics. Although the film shows an imaginative story of Korowai, but some of Korowai's unic characteristic are presented through this film, such as the way they wear clothes, the way they live their life, etc.
San IGNACIO DE ANTIOQUIA DISCIPULO NADA ,MENOS QUE DE SAN JUAN Y SAN PABLO, FUE ORDENADO OBISPO POR LOS APOSTOLES, , EN SUCESION APOSTOLICA SEGUN LA TRADICION .
SINTESIS DE SUS SIETE CARTAS DOCTRINALES , FUE QUIEN NOMBRA A LA IGLESIA POR PRIMERA VEZ ! CATOLICA ! POR SU MISION Y SENTIDO UNIVERSAL.
Live Events and Content: The Perfect PairDoubleDutch
Live events play a huge role in engaging prospects at every stage of the customer journey—but marketers rarely consider that these events also serve as a wellspring of ideas and behavioral insights from your buyer’s that can impact an entire content marketing program.
Learn how Hana Abaza, Head of Strategy at Uberflip, and her team measure the impact of their event content, uncover a wealth of new ideas, and inform their entire marketing strategy with actionable insights drawn from their inaugural event: The Uberflip Experience.
State Constitutions: Current, Historical, and How They ChangeAshley Ahlbrand
This was a presentation for the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries, presented on July 14, 2013.
The presenters were Ashley Ahlbrand, Jennifer Morgan, and Cindy Dabney of Indiana University's Maurer School of Law. Michelle Cosby, of North Carolina Central University School of Law, moderated.
United States Federal Government Structure for International StudentsMolly Nichelson
I'm currently a graduate student in USC's Price School of Public Affairs, International Public Policy and Management program (IPPAM). The majority of my classmates are foreign nationals and they asked me to give a presentation on the US Federal Government structure. It's a basic overview but they were keenly interested in lobbying and PACs.
Presentation discussion how academic librarians fit into the research process with faculty and students as well as how we make decisions when purchasing materials.
It's All About Support: Strategies for introducing and supporting a course ma...Rosalind Tedford
Presented at Educause Annual Conference, Fall 2000.
Co Presenter: H. David 'Giz' Womack
Once a laptop program is in place on your campus, what do you do with the used laptops that students turn back in to the University? Wake Forest University, an IBM ThinkPad campus, began addressing this issue in 1998. This presentation describes our solution to the problem, including details of the new partnerships we formed in the community during this collaborative process.
Front and Center: Getting library resources included in your University’s tec...Rosalind Tedford
Presented at Educause Mid-Atlantic Conference 2001
Are library resources taking a back seat to technology at your university? Not at Wake Forest. Through its “Research and Classroom Tools” project, Z. Smith Reynolds Library keeps them in the forefront of both the University software load and its ThinkPad training program. This presentation focuses on how we did it and how you can, too.
Thinking Outside the Box: Using Blackboard Across the InstitutionRosalind Tedford
Presented at Blackboard User Conference 2004.
Co-Presenters: JoAnna Hunt (Seneca College) and Eric Kunnen (Grand Rapids Community College)
What do the largest college in Canada, a small liberal arts university and a community college have in common with their Blackboard implementations? All three have discovered that there are many ways to use Blackboard across the campus enterprise that can not only streamline procedures for departments on campus but that can also increase Blackboard visibility and buy-in from non-academic departments. Seneca University in Toronto, Wake Forest University in North Carolina, and Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan all have worked to implement Blackboard for projects outside of the classroom. This presentation will focus on what is happening at our institutions, what we have been doing to facilitate such Blackboard usage and the lessons we have learned in the process.
When Blackboard Goes Bigtime: Centralizing Support, Unifying the MessageRosalind Tedford
Presented at Bb World Conference 2006.
Co-Presenter: Lori Mathis (UNC)
One small private university and one large state school will discuss how they have moved faculty Blackboard support to the central university help desk. We will discuss how partnering, advanced planning, good training and solid second-tier support are crucial to making this transition smooth for faculty and support folks alike.
Attacking From All Sides Strategies to educate students and faculty on copyri...Rosalind Tedford
Presented at the Consortium for College and University Media Centers Annual Conference 2004.
Across the country, campuses are struggling with an increase in copyright and plagiarism violations brought on by an ever increasing amount of electronic information that makes both committing and detecting copyright and plagiarism infractions easier. At Wake Forest University, we are working not only to deal with the offenders when we find them, but also to educate our community in order to reduce the number of infractions that occur and to increase an awareness of, and respect for, intellectual property. We take every opportunity to communicate with the campus community and hope our experiences can help other institutions begin to address similar issues on their campuses.
Presented at LOEX Conference 2008
Students love Wikipedia, but often don't understand wikis. In several sections of our for-credit IL courses at Wake Forest University, we have replaced the Annotated Bibliography with a wiki as the final project. We have found that this encourages collaboration among students, increases the engagement with the material and fosters a deeper understanding of the concepts of wikis and their place in the information landscape. This session will outline how we implemented wikis, how they worked, how they were received by students and what lessons we learned along the way.
Take Five: Using Documentary Film in Information Literacy InstructionRosalind Tedford
In a for-credit elective information literacy course it is often difficult to keep the material both engaging for the students and exciting for the instructors while still keeping the course objectives in sight. In an effort to make some changes to their LIB100 class, instructors at Wake Forest University introduced documentary films as the content around which the course and the assignments were built. Films on a variety of contemporary topics were chosen: Food, Inc., The Union: The Business Behind Getting High, Maxed Out and Big Bucks, Big Pharma. The students were divided into groups to work on a final presentation on one aspect of their film and examples from the films were used to illustrate various points over the course of the class. Additionally, a short documentary on the drinking age was shown to the class and formed the basis of examples and demonstrations by the instructors. The design, implementation and outcome of the course will be discussed including ideas for others interested in using film and lots of lessons learned.
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Introduction to AI for Nonprofits with Tapp NetworkTechSoup
Dive into the world of AI! Experts Jon Hill and Tareq Monaur will guide you through AI's role in enhancing nonprofit websites and basic marketing strategies, making it easy to understand and apply.
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Model Attribute Check Company Auto PropertyCeline George
In Odoo, the multi-company feature allows you to manage multiple companies within a single Odoo database instance. Each company can have its own configurations while still sharing common resources such as products, customers, and suppliers.
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdfTechSoup
In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdf
Climbing Capitol Hill: Basics of Congressional Research
1. Accidental Government Librarian Webinar | August 8, 2016
Climbing Capitol Hill: The Basics of
Congressional Research
Rosalind Tedford
Director for Research and Instruction
Politics and International Affairs Liaison
2. Agenda
• A caveat (or three)
• Brief civics lesson
• Tips & tricks
• What Congress Produces
• How researchers may use
that content
• How to find that content (for
free and for fee)
• Auxiliary services for
congress
• Questions and Answers
3. Congress: A Civics Lesson
• Established in Article 1 of the US Constitution
– "all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the
United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of
Representatives."
• House
– 435 members
– Elected every 2 years
– Initiates revenue-raising bills
– Initiates impeachment processes
• Senate
– 100 members
– Elected every 6 years
– Ratifies treaties and approves presidential appointments
– Decides impeachment cases
• Meets for two-year ‘Congresses’ each with two ‘Sessions’ that are
numbered – currently (Aug 2016) in the 114th Congress, 2nd Session.
4. Congress: A Civics Lesson Cont.
http://visual.ly/how-does-bill-become-law
5. Tips and Tricks for
Congressional Research
• Names matter (and they change)
– Bills and Acts are numbered (differently in House and Senate
and Joint) and sometimes named, too
(i.e. ‘Obamacare’ vs. ‘Affordable Care Act’)
– Publications (Annals of Congress > Congressional Record)
– Agencies (‘Health Education and Welfare’ became separate
departments of Health and Human Services and Education)
– Committees
• Names/Numbers/Dates will make your life
easier if you have them
– Name of congressperson, witness, committee, bill, etc.
– What congress AND what session
– Day/Date of votes, floor discussion, hearings, etc.
– Bill number (was it in the House or Senate)
– Serial Set Numbers
8. Congressional Hearings:
What are they?
• Meeting or session of a Senate, House, joint, or
special/select committee of Congress – List of all current
congressional committees
• Used to obtain information and opinions on proposed
legislation, conduct an investigation, or evaluate/oversee
the activities of a government department or the
implementation of a Federal law.
• May also be purely exploratory in nature, providing
testimony and data about topics of current interest.
• Contain data and testimonies from a wide variety of
sources.
• Most congressional hearings are published two months to
two years after they are held. Some are never published.
9. Congressional Hearings:
What are they used for?
• Researching a particular issue or policy – often
considered primary sources for students
• Researching the inner workings of Congress –
committee structure, power plays among members, etc.
• Researching special interests via witnesses called to
testify
• Biographical research (for Congressperson or witness)
• Tracking issues over time (Nuclear nonproliferation
during the Cold War vs. after The Cold War)
• Evaluating the relationship between Congress and the
Administration (confirmation hearings).
• Wonderful source of data
10. Congressional Hearings:
How do you find them?
• In Print or Microfiche in a depository library
• Online for Free
– FDLP Electronic Hearings (often available in
Discovery services and/or library catalogs)
– FDSys (99th – 114th Congress 1985 - Current)
– C-SPAN Video Library (selected hearings)
– Congress.gov has text and some video as well
• Online for $$
– ProQuest Congressional (published and
unpublished hearings).
– HeinOnline
– WestLaw
12. Serial Set: What is it?
• Began with the 15th Congress, 1st Session (1817)
• Documents before 1817 may be found in the American State
Papers.
• Documents cover a wide variety of topics and may include
– Reports of executive departments and independent organizations,
– Reports of special investigations made for Congress
– Publications about the history of the government, institutions and
architecture of Washington
– Annual reports of non-governmental organizations.
– During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, executive-
branch materials were also published in the Serial Set.
• Useful in researching almost anything to do with government,
policy, legislation, etc.
• Additional info from GPO:
13. Serial Set: What is it?
• Contains:
– House Documents
– Senate Documents
– House Reports
– Senate Reports
– Senate Treaty Documents
• Documents are primarily the information coming IN to the committee. This includes
texts of various executive communications to Congress, executive agencies' annual or
special reports to Congress, accounts of committee activities and committee-
sponsored special studies, and a miscellany of publications such as ceremonial tributes
to individuals or reports of patriotic organizations.
• Reports are primarily the information coming OUT of a committee to the larger body
(House or Senate). This is how congressional committees formally report and make
recommendations to the Senate or House as a whole concerning their findings and
deliberations regarding specific pieces of legislation, or their investigative or oversight
activities.
• Can sometimes be the most informative documents related to the creation of specific
legislation. They can provide the data the committee used in their decision-making, and
can provide insight into the thinking behind a particular piece of proposed legislation.
14. Serial Set: What is it Used For?
• Researching a particular policy
• Researching a particular Congress
• Researching topics across time
• Researching organizations or
institutions
• Tribute volumes are often of
particular interest
• Early Serial Set volumes include
things like
– Annual Reports of government
agencies
– Reports on the relocation of the
Cherokee
– Discussion on financing the Lewis
and Clark expedition, etc.
15. Serial Set: How do you find it?
• In Print (bound volumes or
microfiche)
• Online for Free
– Congressional Reports
(104th – 114th Congress 1995 – Current)
– Congressional Documents
(94th – 114th Congress 1975 – Current)
– Library of Congress
(23rd – 64th Congress 1833-1917)
– Congress.gov
• Online for $$
– ProQuest Congressional
– Hein Online
– Readex
17. Congressional Record: What is it?
• It is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the
United States Congress.
• Title Changes
– Annals of the Congress of the United States: 1st – 18th Congresses
(1789-1824) – not actually compiled until 1834-1856, so not verbatim
– Register of Debates in Congress: 18th Congress 1st session – 25th
Congress 1st session (1824–1837)
– Congressional Globe: 23rd through 42nd Congresses (1833–1873)
– Congressional Record: 43rd Congress (1874) – Present
• Covers what happens on the floor of Congress (NOT what
happens in committees)
• Important to know: Members of Congress can revise or extend their remarks
and for most of the years of congress these are not indicated in the CR. Now,
they are in a different typeface or indicated with a bullet.
• Additional info available here: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/abt.cong.rec.html
18. Congressional Record:
What is it cont.
Consists of
• House section and Senate section each
covering floor debate and business.
• Extensions of Remarks (speeches,
tributes and other clarifications that were
not actually uttered during open
proceedings – formerly called Appendix)
• Daily Digest (Summary of what
happens)
• Index for each session of congress by
name & subject
• Also contains communications from the
President and the Executive Branch,
memorials, petitions, and various
information (including amendments and
cosponsors)
19. Congressional Record:
What is it used for?
• To track debates on
topics across time
(compare Prohibition and
Repeal debates)
• Congressional Rhetoric
(e.g. track use of term
‘Obamacare’)
• To look at members’
‘Record’ on particular
issues
• Tracks votes
• Demonstrates changes in
procedure over time
20. Congressional Record:
How do you find it?
• In Print or Microfiche
• Online for Free
• Congress.gov (back to 1995)
• FDSys (1994 – present)
• THOMAS from LOC (1989 – Present)
• American Memory from LOC (1773 – 1874)
• iOS App (back to 1995)
• C-SPAN Video Library (selected debates)
• Online for $$
– ProQuest Congressional
– Hein Online
– WestLaw
21. Auxiliary Services to Congress
Congressional Research Service
– Nonpartisan
– Congress’ ‘think tank’ (in some ways a parallel to GAO – the Executive
Branch’s ‘think tank’)
– Policy group staffed by experienced researchers, economists, policy
analysts and statisticians
– Existed informally earlier but was codified in 1946 and called The
Legislative Research Service. Renamed CRS in 1970.
– Does not provide reports to the public except through your
congressperson (or FOIA request).
– Publishes, data, full reports, policy analyses, issue briefs and more.
– Available Online in ProQuest Congressional but not widely for free
– Major Studies and Issue Briefs of the CRS was also put out in MF
– Some can be found online but not many
– Goldmine of information for researchers on any topic.
– Example: “South Carolina Church Shooting and Hate Crime in the
United States” from June 2015.
22. Auxiliary Services to Congress
Congressional Budget Office
– Created in 1974
– Nonpartisan
– Provides economic data to congress
– Publishes reports in print (SuDoc Y10.2) and online
(http://www.cbo.gov/topics/ ) back to 94th Congress (1975-76)
– Reports analyze economic impact of proposed legislation as
well as enacted legislation
– Really useful for students writing policy analysis or policy
proposal papers
– Example: The Economic Impact of S. 744, the Border
Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration
Modernization Act
23. Legislative Histories
What are they?
• Allows you to track a
law from it’s first
appearance as a bill in
the house or Senate all
the way through the
hearings, revisions,
discussions and votes.
• Can link you to all
versions, hearings,
Serial Set pubs,
debates, etc.
• Usually used to teach
legislative process or to
determine intent behind
a law
24. Legislative Histories
How do they work?
• Before you begin your research, it helps to know at least one of the
following two pieces of information:
– The public law citation or the Statutes at Large citation (e.g. P.L.
107-56; 115 Stat. 272)
– The bill number and Congress of the Act or Resolution (e.g. H.R.
3162 from the 107th Congress)
How do you find them:
• Proquet Congressional
• ProQuest Legislative Insight
• Hein Online, Westlaw, LexisNexis
• On the open web in places like:
– http://www.justice.gov/jmd/ls/legislative_histories/legislative-
histories.html
– http://www.llsdc.org/Leg-Hist/
25. Additional Resources
• Congress/Session Numbers with corresponding
Congressional Record/Debates volumes
• GovDoc-L Listserv - http://govdoc-l.org/
• Schoolhouse Rock ‘I’m Just a Bill’
• Research Guides
– http://hcl.harvard.edu/research/guides/us_congressional/
– http://libguides.nps.edu/content.php?pid=437875&sid=3584211
– http://guides.library.tamu.edu/content.php?pid=302472
26. Q & A
Questions?
Rosalind Tedford
tedforrl@wfu.edu
http://www.slideshare.net/roztedford/climbing-capitol-hill-basics-of-
congressional-research
OR
http://tinyurl.com/h24g9bo
Editor's Notes
The Annals were not published contemporaneously, but were compiled between 1834 and 1856, using the best records available, primarily newspaper accounts. Speeches are paraphrased rather than presented verbatim, but the record of debate is nonetheless fuller than that available from the House and Senate Journals.