Congressional Documents

There are many possible locations for Congressional publications. Remember to ask a librarian if you have trouble finding a publication.

Bills, resolutions, and laws. The Law Library has a complete set, including bills and resolutions that were introduced but never passed. In addition, the texts of most laws passed 1981 to date are available in the legislative files of the Library's computer system, and recent bills, resolutions, and laws (1979 to date) can be found in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room. Bills and resolutions (1993 to date) and laws (1995 to date) are available on THOMAS, the Library's website for legislative information.

The Congressional Record (and its predecessors) are located in the Law Library (1789 to date), the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room (1976 to date), the Main Reading Room (1921 to date), and the Microform Reading Room (1789-1979). The Record (1993 to date) and its index (1994 to date) are available on THOMAS.

Reports and documents in the numbered series ("Serial Set"). The Law Library and the Microform Reading Room have complete sets. The Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room has 1973 to date. Many, especially older items, are also cataloged as books and entered in the Library's general catalogs. Recent reports (1995 to date) are available on THOMAS.

Congressional hearings are located in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room (1973 to date), Law Library (1789 to date), Microform Reading Room (1970 to date), and Main Reading Room (1943 to date). In addition, copies of most hearings can also be found separately listed in the Library's general catalogs. For earlier hearings, use the Main Card Catalog (search under "U.S. Congress. House. Committee on..." or "U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on...").

Committee Prints. Many are cataloged as books and can be found in the Library's general catalogs. In addition, there are sets in the Law Library (mid-1800s to date), the Microform Reading Room (1911 to date), and the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room (1973 to date).