A Brief Guide to Researching U.S. Public Policy
Contents
- Introduction
- Congressional Publications
- Regulatory Information
- Programs
- Additional Information Resources
Introduction
This guide was written for students who are writing a policy analysis paper. This is a brief guide to the major sources for recent legislation. Some topics may require you to use the more thorough Researching U.S. Public Policy guide.
Top of PageCONGRESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
| LexisNexis Congressional SEE CIS Annual, below |
GPO Access |
Thomas |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative History / Bill History This will lead you to the following publications: |
1984- |
--- |
1973 - |
| Public Laws | 1988 - | 1995 - | 1973 - |
| Committee Hearings Note: Most hearings are not available online. Hearings are available in print in Government Publications & Maps. |
1993 - (testimony only) |
few | few |
| Committee Reports | 1990 - | 1995 - | 1995 - |
| Congressional Record Note: The Congressional Record provides Congressional debate. |
1985 - | 1994 - | 1989 - |
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REGULATORY INFORMATION
| LexisNexis Congressional SEE CIS Annual, below |
GPO Access |
|
|---|---|---|
| Code of Federal Regulations | Current edition | 1997 - |
| Federal Register | 1980 - | 1994 - |
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PROGRAMS
| Program | Version |
|---|---|
| Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance See print version, below |
Web version (current edition) |
| Overview of Entitlement Programs: (year) Green Book | Web version 1996 - |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCES
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. Current.
Location: PREX 2.20: Ref/US
This is a compendium of over 1300 United States government programs, projects, services and activities which
provide public assistance or benefits. Each program description is arranged by agency and include: title and
popular name, types of assistance, authorization, eligibility requirements, regulations, contacts and criteria
for selection.
CIS Annual: Legislative Histories. 1984-ongoing.
Location: KF49 .C62 Ref
Indexes significant enactments (public laws). Histories identify all relevant documents. Use the subject index in
the back of each volume.
CIS Annual: Index. 1970-ongoing.
Location: KF49 .C62 Ref
Comprehensive index to Congressional publications: hearings, reports, prints. Use the separate index volumes. The
"PL" entries will provide a legislative history.
Congressional Quarterly Almanac. 1945-ongoing.
Location: JK1 .C66 Ref
Annual summary of major legislative activities in Congress.
Congressional Quarterly Congress and the Nation. 1945-ongoing.
Location: JK1021 .C6 Ref
Summary of major legislative activities in Congress over four years.
CQ Researcher
Location: H62 .E352 Ref
CQ Researcher provides in-depth reports on current and controversial issues with complete summaries, pro and con discussions of all sides of the issues, bibliographies and more. Full text is available from 1996 to the present and abstracts for print reports from 1991 to present.
CQ Weekly (Report)
Location: JK1 .C15 Ref
CQ Weekly provides nonpartisan legislative news and analysis on the activities of the U.S. Congress. Paper edition covers 1955 to the present. Online, full text coverage is from 1983 to the present.
Major Studies and Issue Briefs of the Congressional Research Service. 1916-ongoing.
Location: LC 14.2:St 9 Ref/US (Index) and Gov Pubs Micro/US (microform reports)
An index to the "in-depth policy analyses and research on every subject of interest to Congress, including
background analyses; pro and con arguments; scientific, economic and legal analyses; legal research; and
legislative histories." The reports are available on microfilm through 1989 and on microfiche from 1991.
SEE also: Congressional Research Service.
To identify books, use
the PAC, the SDSU Library online catalog.
To identify articles in periodicals, use
Article Databases.
