ENGL 3880
(Catherine Smith)
U.S. AND NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATIVE RESOURCES
FOR WRITING PUBLIC POLICY
Joyner Library Home Page http://www.ecu.edu/lib
To reach library databases, start at Library web page, then click DATABASES tab on the top toolbar and navigate the alphabetical list to the database you want to use. If you are entering a database from off-campus you will be asked for your Pirate ID and password. FEDERAL RESOURCES
Background of Federal Legislation
CQ Researcher:
Published in print and online 44 times a year by CQ Press, a division of Congressional Quarterly, Inc., CQ Researcher reports offer in-depth, non-biased coverage of political and social issues. Each 12,000-word CQ Researcher report is a unique work, investigated and written by a seasoned journalist. It can be read in its entirety or by section, which include a background and chronology; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions; and bibliographies of key sources. Coverage: 1923 - present
CQ Almanac via CQ Political Reference Suite: CQ Almanac is the best primary resource for coverage and analysis of U.S. congressional legislation from 1945 to today, and is available in a convenient, easy-to-navigate online format. CQ Almanac is known for its in-depth analysis of the path legislation takes through Congress, including how bills are changed, derailed, or ultimately passed during an annual session of Congress.
CQ Weekly: In-depth reports on legislative issues, including those looming on the congressional horizon, a complete wrap-up the previous week's news, reports on the status of bills in play, committee and floor activity, debates and all roll-call votes.
Columbia International Affairs Online: Provides theory, research, and teaching materials for international affairs. CIAO contains a wide range of scholarship from 1991 onward that includes working papers from university research institutes, occasional papers series from NGOs, foundation-funded research projects, proceedings from conferences, books, journals and policy briefs.
PAIS International Index and Archive: journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference reports, publications of international agencies. Newspapers and newsletters are not indexed. Publications from more than 120 countries and in a variety of languages are included. 1972 -- current
Legislation/Legislative Histories
Thomas:
Provides full text legislative information on the web beginning with the 104th Congress (1995/96). It includes congressional bills, public laws, roll call votes, the Congressional Record, committee reports and information on the legislative process. Searching is by word or phrase, bill number, stage of legislative process, or public law number.
LexisNexis Congressional: Includesthe full text of congressional bills, testimony, reports, documents, selected prints, and the Congressional Record, the U.S. Code, the Federal Register, and the Code of Federal Regulations. Biographies, committee assignments, voting records and financial data are provided for current members of Congress.
Lexis-Nexis Legislative Histories: Navigate to Lexis-Nexis Congressional. Then see “Legislative Histories” on left sidebar.
Guides:
Popular Names of Acts
LLSDC Legislative Source Book: Federal Legislative History Research: (choose the PDF version)
This guide to doing research is produced by the Law Librarians’ Society of Washington, DC, Inc. In-depth and step-by-step.
University of Michigan Documents Center: Legislative Histories: United States Congress:
Subtitled “A Guide for Class Assignments Beginning 1993,” this website leads users through the process of conducting legislative history research, and links out to a variety of resources.
Georgetown University Law Library Legislative History Research Guide
This research guide details practical aspects of conducting research, from a clearly written overview to paths for obtaining legislative histories already compiled or finding key documents to compile a new one.
In Depth:
Congressional Record:
Official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.Published daily when Congress is in session. Website coverage begins in 1995; we have microfilm and print (J11 .R5) coverage prior to 1995.
GPO Access’s Legislative Branch Resources:
Particularly helpful are these sections: History of Bills, Congressional Record Index, US Code, and the US Congressional Serial Set.
Congressional Research Service Reports (CRS) via Open CRS: and Lexis-Nexis
Open CRS is a project of the Center for Democracy & Technology, Open CRS provides citizens access to Congressional Research Services reports that are already in the public domain, that is, once they have been released by a member of Congress. These PDF files are arranged in collections and by topic. You may also access the full collection of CRS reports through Lexis-Nexis Congressional -- once into the database, click the "Advanced" search tab.
NORTH CAROLINA RESOURCES
North CarolinaPublic Policy Research Organizations -- selected web sites at:
http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/iss/pubpolicy.htm
NC Legislation
In odd years the legislature's regular session begins in January and usually concludes about six months later. A short session to address budgetary matters convenes in May or June of even years and lasts for about two months. Bills introduced in each house are numbered as they are introduced (e.g., S.B. 1, S.B. 2; H.B.25, H.B. 26). Bill numbering in the short sessions continues the numbering of regular sessions.
- Session Laws(NoCar Ref KFN 7425 A243). 1831/32-. These are the laws and resolutions passed in a given session of the legislature, as well as executive orders issued by the governor, compiled chronologically. Includes indexes by subject and bill number. Session Laws prior to 1831 may be found in the Records of the States of the United States of America [North Carolina] Joyner NC Microforms/Microfilm R245/NC. A Guide to the Microfilm Collection of Early State Records, prepared by William Sumner Jenkins, is located in Joyner Reference (Ref Z1223.5.A1 U47 Guide).The North Carolina portion of this guide has been photocopied and placed in the North Carolina Collection's microfilm room. Roughly equivalent to Statutes at Large in federal legislation.
- General Statutes(NoCar Ref KFN 7430 1943 A2x) The General Statutes are a "codified," or subject, arrangement of the laws of North Carolina. The General Statutes are available via the Internet at the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Tracking NC Legislation
North Carolina General Assembly World Wide Web Site An excellent starting place for tracking current and recent legislation. Resources include bill status, legislative committee information, and voting records.
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- Advance Legislative Service (ALS). Published soon after the close of a legislative session. The ALS includes all laws passed during the session. The Advance Legislative Service is available via LexisNexis Academic -- Legal. Once in, use the right sidebar “Federal & State Codes” and then work your way to "Advance Legislative Service -- 50 States".
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Daily Bulletin lists bills that have been introduced (giving a brief indication of the subject or intent of the legislation) and tracks the status of bills(e.g., referral to committees, ratification.) Available from the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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North Carolina Legislation.For each session of the legislature, this publication summarizes by major subject (budget, aging, education, etc.) the content of legislation of interest to public officials.
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House and Senate Journals(NoCar Ref J87 .N81 [House] 1858/59-; NoCar Ref J87 N8 [Senate]). 1850/1851-.Journals contain a daily record of legislative action in each session but do not constitute a record of discussion or debate. Selected House and Senate Journals for years prior to 1850 may be found in the Records of the States of the United States of America [North Carolina] Joyner NC Microforms/Microfilm R245/NC. A Guide to the Microfilm Collection of Early State Records, prepared by William Sumner Jenkins, is located in Joyner Reference (Ref Z1223.5.A1 U47 Guide). The North Carolina portion of this guide has been photocopied and placed in a binder in the North Carolina Collection's microfilm room.
North Carolina Administrative Code
