Research Guides: U.S. Government: Legislative Branch

About the Legislative Branch

Branches of Government
Learn more about the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the U.S. government.
How Our Laws are Made
A basic outline of the numerous steps of our federal law-making process from the source of an idea for a legislative proposal through its publication as a statute.
Our Government: The Legislative Branch
Established by Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.
Members of the U.S. Congress, CONGRESS.GOV
The House Explained
As per the Constitution, the U.S. House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws. The House is one of Congress’s two chambers (the other is the U.S. Senate), and part of the federal government’s legislative branch. The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.
Sessions of Congress
The annual series of meetings of a Congress is called a session. Each Congress generally has two sessions, based on the constitutional mandate that Congress assemble at least once a year.

Legislative Source Book
Produced by the LLSDC Legislative Research Special Interest Section, the Legislative Source Book contains a collection of resources to help with complex historical and contemporary questions in legislative activities.
Schedule of Volumes of the U.S. Serial Set: 1970 to Current
116th Congress Membership Profile, Office of the Cleck
Profile lists by subject for the 116th Congress

Federal Information in the News

The 2020 Census: Frequently Asked Questions
This Congressional Research Service report addresses common questions concerning the 2020 census. The report is intended to provide information about the census, including clarifying various aspects of the census process.

U.S. House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Documents, Letters, and Releases Pertaining to the Impeachment Inquiry
Documents, Letters, and Releases Pertaining to the Impeachment Inquiry
Impeachment Investigations: Law and Process
CRS Legal Sidebar, LSB10347, October 2, 2019
The Impeachment Process in the House of Representatives
CRS Report R45769, October 10, 2019
Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election (Mueller Report)

Research Databases

govinfo

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP)
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Catalog of U.S. Government Publications

Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey
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HeinOnline
Training guides and video tutorials are available.

CQ Magazine
CRS Reports
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The Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides accurate, non-partisan policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate.
United States Government Manual
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United States Government Manual Website

Research Reports

Committee Prints
Congressional Committee Prints are publications issued by Congressional Committees that include topics related to their legislative or research activities, as well as other matters such as memorial tributes. The prints are an excellent resource for statistical and historical information, and for legislative analysis. The subjects of the Committee Prints vary greatly due to the different concerns and actions of each committee. Some basic categories of Congressional Committee Prints are: draft reports and bills, directories, statistical materials, investigative reports, historical reports, situational studies, confidential staff reports, hearings, and legislative analyses.
Government Accountability Office (GAO) Reports
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the investigative arm of Congress. Its mission is to support Congress in meeting its Constitutional responsibilities (e.g. oversight, policy, and funding decisions) and to help improve the performance and accountability of the Federal Government for the American people. Most reports are done at the request of members of Congress — often committee chairpersons and ranking minority members. All published reports, testimonies, correspondence, and special publications are included.
GAO Reports and Comptroller General Decisions on FDsys
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GAO Reports and Comptroller General Decisions from 1989 - 2008
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Reports
The CBO has produces independent, nonpartisan analyses of budgetary and economic issues to support the Congressional budget process.

An Introduction to the Congressional Budget Office

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation.
In September 2018, the Library of Congress began releasing Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports to the public at crsreports.congress.gov.

Government Websites

Congress.Gov
The successor to THOMAS.gov, it is the current public site for legislative information. The site contains legislation from the 107th Congress (2001) to the present, member of Congress profiles from the 93rd Congress (1973) to the present, and selected member profiles from the 80th through the 92nd Congresses (1947 to 1972).
Congress.Gov Glossary
Brief explanations of legislative terms used throughout Congress.gov
A Century of U.S. Lawmaking
Congressional documents and debates, 1774-1875. Contains the largest and most up-to-date collection of Congressional Research Service reports available online. Content spans 1993-present and covers a wide array of subject areas.
Congressional Budget Office
Provides Congress with analyses needed for economic and budget decisions. Site includes current and historical budget data and economic projections. Subject arrangement with key word search.
Congressional Directory
Searchable and browsable directory of congress members, congressional committees, and congressional agencies, also includes executive agencies, 1997 to present.
Congressional Pictorial Directory
The Congressional Pictorial Directory provides a color photograph of each member of the House of Representatives and the Senate for the 113th Congress. It also includes information about a Member of Congress' length of service, political party affiliations, and Congressional district. Also contains pictures of the President, Vice President, and House and Senate officers and officials.
Congressional Gold Medal Recipients
Congressional Gold Medal Recipients, 1776 to Present.
Congressional Record
Official record of the proceedings and debates of Congress, 1994 to present.
Federal Legislative Branch: USA.gov
Official information and services from the U.S. government’s legislative branch.
Founders Online
GAO Reports and Comptroller General Decisions via FDsys
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govinfo
Government Publishing Office (GPO)
The primary publisher and distributor of government information products. Through FDsys and the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications provides access to federal web sites and government information products.
Library of Congress
The premier government library and collector of government information for the nation.
Senate Virtual Reference Desk
A clearinghouse of Senate information on the Web and guides to resources in libraries and archives.
Senate Organization Chart
Senate Statistics & Lists
Senate How to…
How to find materials related to the legislative process and the Senate.
Senate Journal
The Library of Congress's American Memory collection offers the Journal from 1789-1875.
Journal of the House of Representatives
The Journal is the official record of proceedings of each legislative day in the House of Representatives, 2000 - 2012 on FDsys.gov
Senate Manual
The Senate Manual, prepared during the second session of each Congress by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, contains the standing rules, orders, laws, and resolutions affecting the Senate, as well as copies of historical U.S. documents, such as Jefferson’s Manual, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution of the United States, et cetera. and selected statistical information on the Senate and other Government entities. It is generally issued each Congress as Senate Document 1.
Congressional Calendars, 104th Congress (1995-1996) to Present
Govinfo.gov's Congressional Calendars collection includes the Calendars of the U.S. House of Representatives and History of Legislation and the Senate Calendar of Business. The Calendars of the U.S. House of Representatives and History of Legislation is prepared under the direction of the Clerk of the House of Representatives by the Office of Legislative Operations. It is published daily by 8:00 a.m. when the House is in session.
Congressional Reports
Congressional Committee Prints
Congressional Hearings
House Rules and Manual
The House Rules and Manual is published by the House Parliamentarian's Office. This document is formally entitled Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and Rules of the House of Representatives and contains the fundamental source material for parliamentary procedure used in the House of Representatives.
Digitization Projects Registry: Legal & Regulatory
Includes governing actions controlled by the law, as well as congressional documents, the Federal Register, nuclear regulations, et cetera
U.S. House of Representatives Committee websites:
U.S. Senate Committee websites:
U.S. Congress: Audio and Visual Coverage

New Jersey State Library Catalog

Locating Online Federal Documents Using the New Jersey State Library Catalog
This guide provides searching tips and examples of how to find and access online federal documents in the New Jersey State Library's catalog.

New Jersey State Library Catalog Advanced Search

Helpful Resources

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 by Congress (U.S.), Joint Committee on Printing Staff (Produced by); U. S. Government Printing Office Staff (Created by)
Call Number: Y 1.1/7:108-222, US Docs Reference, Level 4
ISBN: 0160731763
Publication Date: 2006-01-11
Congress and the Nation, 2009-2012 by Dave Tarr (Editor, Editor)
Call Number: R320.973 C749 , Level 4, Reference
ISBN: 1452270341
Publication Date: 2014-09-09

Published every 4 years, (last edition in print 2009-2012), Congress and the Nation provides overviews and summaries of key issues and legislative proposals, organized chronologically within subject chapters. An excellent one-stop source for historical overviews, names, dates, and issues. New Jersey State Library holdings: 1945 - 2012
Congressional Digest
Call Number: PER C, Level 2, Periodicals

This periodical provides a pro and con discussion of key issues of the day. Each issue is dedicated to a single topic. New Jersey State Library holdings, 1922 - present.
Black Americans in Congress, 1870-2007 by House (U.S.), Office of History and Preservation (Produced by); Matthew Wasniewski (Editor)
Call Number: Y1.1/2: SERIAL 14904 , Level 4, US Docs Reference
ISBN: 9780160801945
Publication Date: 2008-10-03
Hispanic Americans in Congress, 1822-2012 by Matthew Wasniewski (Editor); Albin Kowalewski (Consultant Editor); Laura Turner-O'Hara (Consultant Editor); Terrance Rucker (Consultant Editor); Office of the Historian; House (U.S.), Committee on House Administration. (Editor); U.S. House of Representatives
Call Number: Y1.1/7:108-225 , Level 4, US Docs Reference
ISBN: 9780160920684
Publication Date: 2013-09-19
Women in Congress, 1917-2006 by Matthew Wasniewski (Editor); Committee on Indian Affairs (Prepared for Publication by)
Call Number: Y1.1/2: SERIAL 14903, Level 4, US Docs Reference
ISBN: 9780160767531
Publication Date: 2007-04-10
Politics in America 2014 by January Layman-Wood; CQ Roll Call Staff
Call Number: R324.0973 C749 2014, Level 4, Reference
ISBN: 9781452277820
Publication Date: 2013-07-01

Current Events

Impeachment Investigations: Law and Process
CRS Legal Sidebar, LSB10347, October 2, 2019
The Impeachment Process in the House of Representatives
CRS Report R45769, October 10, 2019

Webinars

Crossroads: Research at the Intersection of State and Federal Law, by Teri Taylor, U.S. Documents Librarian and Leslie Witko, Law Librarian, New Jersey State Library. This webinar demonstrates how to navigate transitions from state statutes and regulations to elusive Federal resources embedded in state text. This legal research journey includes visits to the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, GPO’s Federal Digital System, and Federal agency websites. Recorded: 3/31/2015
Duration: 50 minutes