Library Collection

Show All Descriptions | Hide All Descriptions

House and Senate Journals (1789–Present)

Motions, reports filed, executive communications, votes, and other basic legislative actions of the House and Senate are summarized in the Journals. The Journals do not include the actual floor debates, speeches, or extended remarks.

Available online (from 1789 to 1875)
House Journal http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwhj.html
Senate Journal http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsj.html

Annals of Congress (1789–1824)

Congressional speeches and debates compiled using primary sources can be found in the Annals of Congress, the 1st record in the four-part series of Congressional debate documents.

Available online
Annals of Congress (1789–1824) http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwac.html

Congressional Debates (Register of Debates) (1824–1837)

Congressional debates and floor incidents are summarized in the Register of Debates, the 2nd record in the four-part series of Congressional debate documents.

Available online
Register of Debates (1824–1837) http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwrd.html

Congressional Globe (1833–1873)

The Globe contains an abstract report of the House and Senate floor debates; after 1851 the record began to show nearly verbatim floor debates. The Globe is the 3rd record in the four-part series of Congressional debate documents.

Available online
Congressional Globe (1833–1873) http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwcg.html

Congressional Record (1873–Present)

The nearly verbatim debates of Congress and legislative proceedings are printed in Congressional Record since 1873. Extension of Remarks, Daily Digest, and further detailed information can be found in more current volumes of the Record. The Congressional Record is the 4th record in the four-part series of Congressional debate documents.

Available online
Congressional Record
1873–1875 http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwcr.html
1989–present http://thomas.loc.gov/home/r109query.html

House Documents (1795–Present)

House Documents originate from Congressional committees and include annual reports of executive departments, investigative reports made to Congress, Presidential messages, and other similar publications.

Available online (from 1995 to present)
House Documents http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/index.html

House Reports (1795–Present)

Congressional committees prepare reports based on proposed legislation and issues under investigation.

Available online (from 1995 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/creports/index.html

House Bills and Resolutions (1799–Present)

House Bills are Member sponsored proposed law introduced on the House floor. House Resolutions are formal written motions adopted by the House.

Available online (from 1993 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/bills/browse.html

House Committee Hearings (1909–Present)

Hearings are investigations by committees of Congress to obtain information and opinions regarding proposed legislation. Hearings may also be purely exploratory in nature, providing testimony and data about topics of current interest.

Available online (from 1995 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/chearings/browse.html

Senate Reports (1847–Present)

Senate Reports originate from Congressional committees and deal with proposed legislation and issues under investigation.

Available online (from 1995 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/creports/index.html

Senate Documents (1817–Present)

Senate Documents include reports of executive departments and agencies, some of which are submitted in accordance with Federal law.

Available online (from 1995 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/index.html

Congressional Directories (1855–Present)

Members’ biographies, committee membership, terms of service in Congress, Member office locations and telephone numbers are contained in Congressional Directories. Also included are Congressional Boards and Commissions, Statistical Information, Congressional District Maps, and executive agency information.

Available online (from 1995 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cdirectory/index.html

Hind’s Precedents (Published in 1907)

The 1st edition of a volume of works containing the precedents of the House of Representatives, dating from the First to the Seventy-Fourth Congress.

Available online http://www.gpoaccess.gov/precedents/hinds/index.html

Cannon’s Precedents (Published in 1936)

The 2nd edition of a volume of works containing selected rulings and the precedents of the House of Representatives made from the First to the Seventy-Fourth Congress.

Available online http://www.gpoaccess.gov/precedents/cannon/index.html

Deschler’s Precedents (1928–1986) Deschler-Brown (1974–1994)

Deschler’s Precedents is a continuation of Cannon’s Precedents and Hind’s Precedents. Deschler identifies precedents and practices of the House of Representatives. Deschler’s Precedents became know as Deschler-Brown in 1974.

Available online http://www.gpoaccess.gov/precedents/deschler/index.html

Code of Federal Regulations (1938–Present)

The Code of Federal Regulations is the annual publication of executive orders, regulations, Presidential proclamations, and rules for executive agencies and departments.

Available online (From 1996 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html

Federal Register (1936–Present)

The Federal Register contains rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other Presidential documents and is the official daily companion to the Code of Federal Regulations.

Available online (From 1994 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (1936–Present)

The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is the official publication of Presidential statements, messages, remarks, and other materials released by the White House Press Secretary.

Available online (From 1994 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/

United States Statutes at Large (1789–Present)

The United States Statutes at Large contains the laws and resolutions passed by Congress during each session of Congress. The United States Statutes at large, commonly know as the Statutes at Large, is currently published by the Government Printing Office and is considered the official source for laws passed by Congress.

Available online (From 1789–1875) http://rs6.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsl.html

United States Code Congressional and Administrative News (U.S.C.C.A.N) (1941–Present)

U.S.C.C.A.N, published by West Group, contains public law, Presidential proclamations, and executive orders. Although U.S.C.C.A.N contains similar information to the United States Statutes at Large, U.S.C.C.A.N is not considered the official source of legislation.

Available in the House Library, Legislative Resource Center

United States Code (1934–Present)

The United States Code is a consolidation of general and permanent laws of the United States Congress. The United States Code is considered the official source of laws arranged by subject matter published by the Office of the Law Revision Council.

Available online http://uscode.house.gov/search/criteria.shtml

United States Code Annotated (U.S.C.A.) (2006)

U.S.C.A. contains laws and annotations for case law relevant to the particular statute. Although U.S.C.A. contains similar information to the United States Code, U.S.C.A. is not considered the official source.

Available in the House Library, Legislative Resource Center

Pictorial Directory (1955–Present)

The Congressional Pictorial Directory provides a photograph of each Member of Congress, House and Senate officers and officials, and the Vice President and President of the United States.

Available online (From 1997 to present) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/pictorial/

Treaties (1967–Present)

In the Untied States Congress the Senate votes on treaties which are binding agreements under international law. The House is not directly involved with the approval or disapproval of treaties. A treaty may remain open at the end of a Congress and be considered in a future Congress.

Available online (From 1967 to present) http://thomas.loc.gov/home/treaties/treaties.htm

Periodical and Reference Resources:

Roll Call Newspaper (1986–Present)

Roll Call Newspaper publishes Congressional news and information since 1955. The publication is available when Congress is in session and on Mondays during recess. Roll Call covers Congressional elections in every state and news of the legislative and political maneuvers on Capitol Hill.

Available online, a subscription basis http://www.rollcall.com

Hill Newspaper (1994–Present)

The Hill Newspaper is a non-partisan newspaper that describes the inner workings of Congress since 1994. The Hill profiles lawmakers and aides including 100 Senators, 435 House members.

Available online, a subscription basis http://www.hillnews.com

National Journal (1985–Present)

National Journal publishes nonpartisan political and policy information. National Journal Group Inc. provides several publications for political research and legislative activities including: Bill Status Reports, to track key legislation; Daybook, a guide to political and policy events; and Earlybird, an early-morning news update on national news, campaigns, and the House and Senate floor agendas.

Available online, a subscription basis http://nationaljournal.com

Congressional Quarterly Almanac (1945–Present) (Weeklies 1967–Present)

A reference book containing a year of Congressional and national political activities, including House and Senate votes, important Presidential statements, responses from Members of Congress, tracked legislation, and statistical analyses.

Available online, a subscription basis www.cq.com

The Almanac of American Politics (1972–Present)

The Almanac of American Politics is a reference guide containing an analysis on Members of Congress and Governors also data on states and districts.

Available in the House Library, Legislative Resource Center

Politics in America (1982–Present)

Politics in America profiles Members of Congress with biographical background information, and legislative agendas. The publication also provides detailed state and district information plus a wealth of information on campaign finance, partisan caucuses, and standing committees.

Available in the House Library, Legislative Resource Center

Clerk Reports/Statement of Disbursements (1823–Present)

The Clerk Reports are House Documents that contain annual reports of the House allowances and expenditures and the Statement of Disbursements.

Available in the House Library, Legislative Resource Center

House/Senate Phone Books (1975–Present)

The phone books contain directory listings of: Members, Leadership offices, Committees, Members’ personal staff listings, General support services, Executive Branch agencies, and Government agencies.

Available in the House Library, Legislative Resource Center

Congressional Staff Directories (1959–Present)

Congressional Staff Directories contain directory listings of: Rosters, Caucuses, Task Forces, Committees, State information, and Government offices.

Available in the House Library, Legislative Resource Center


Office of the Clerk - U.S. Capitol, Room H154, Washington, DC 20515-6601
(202) 225-7000 | info.clerkweb@mail.house.gov