LibGuides: Federal Legislative History Materials: Legislative Process

Legislative Process and Interpretation

In order to understand the pieces of a legislative history you might be asked to locate, it is important first to understand the different types of documents that are produced during the legislative process. The following links provide detailed explanations of the legislative process.

CRS Legislative History Research Guide
This CRS "report provides an overview of federal legislative history research, the legislative process, and where to find congressional documents. The report also summarizes some of the reasons researchers are interested in legislative history, briefly describes the actions a piece of legislation might undergo during the legislative process, and provides a list of easily accessible print and electronic resources."
Enactment of a Law
This guide to the legislative process focuses on Senate procedures. Written by Robert B. Dove, Parliamentarian of the United States Senate.
How Our Laws Are Made
This guide to the legislative process focuses on House procedures. Written by Charles W. Johnson, Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives.
The Legislative Process (Text and Video)
Federal legislative process is explained in text and in 9 videos posted on Congress.gov website.