federal legislative history part 1 margaret clark, reference librarian fsu law research center fall...
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FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE HISTORY Part 1
Margaret Clark, Reference Librarian
FSU Law Research Center
Fall 2008
Federal Legislative History - 1
What is legislative history? Why compile a legislative history? Documents that make up leg history What tools can I use to search for a
compiled legislative history? HeinOnline Westlaw LexisNexis USCCAN (U.S. Code and Congressional
What is legislative history?
A collection of related documents produced by Congress during the enactment, or rejection, of a proposed public law.
Why compile legislative history?
To clarify questions about a statute if there are no cases interpreting it.
To understand the meaning of specific language or terminology
To determine legislative intent at the time statute was enacted
Legislative History Documents Bills 106 H.R. 275 110 S. 30
Many versions: engrossed enrolled Committee hearings
Hearing on H.R. 5388 before the Comm. on the Judiciary, 109th Cong. 51-76 (2006)
Committee reports H.Rpt.106-55 Committee prints H.R. Doc No.43 (Title) Committee documents H. Doc. 105-22 Floor debates 132 Cong. Rec. 32408; CR H2675 Conference report H. R. Conf. Rep. 105-37 Slip law/session law Pub. L. 106-386
Not all legislative documents are created equal!
1. Statute text
2. Conference report’s joint explanatory statement
3. Committee reports
4. Remarks, debates
5. Bill text in various versions
6. Witness statements in committee hearings
7. Prints, reports, signing statements, news articles
Excerpted from Richard McKinney’s Federal Legislative History Research,
http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/fed-leg-hist.pdf, last updated May 2006
Hearings
Reports
Debates
Popular Name
U.S.Code Citation
VICTIMS of TRAFFICKING and VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT OF 2000
STEP 1: Identify public law number STEP 2: Identify bill number STEP 3: Check for compiled legislative
history STEP 4: Find legislative history
documents STEP 5: Read and analyze documents
Step 1: Identify public law number
VICTIMS of TRAFFICKING and VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT OF 2000
Use Popular Name table from any of these sources:
Cornell Popular Name Table web site (free) USCA / USCS Popular Name Table
22 USC § 7102 Use history notes at the end of the USC
section
Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000
STEP 1: Identify public law number
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
USCA-POP
22 USC § 7102
STEP 1: Identify public law number
STEP 2: Identify bill numberPub.L. 106-386
Step 3: Check for compiled history
HeinOnline Westlaw Arnold and Porter Collection Lexis Legislative Histories
USCCAN – U.S. Code Congressional & Administrative News
HeinOnlineSources of Compiled Legislation
Hein Online
Hein Online
HeinOnlineSources of Compiled Legislation
HeinOnlineU.S. Federal Legislative History Title Collection
USCCANU.S. Code Congressional and Administrative News
Two sectionsLaws - Public laws in chronological orderLegislative History
List of legislative history documents Reprints selected documents, e.g. committee reports Helpful tables offer checklist
Print begins with 1941 Westlaw begins with 1973
Questions?
Civil Rights Act of 1957
Step 1 : Identify public law number. Where? Popular Name Table (Internet – Cornell’s Popular Name Table)
Answer is: P.L. 85-315
Step 2: Identify its bill number. Skip for the moment Step 3: Check for Compiled Sources. Where?
HeinOnline - Bill number? Answer is: 85 H.R. 6127 What source points to actual documents? Answer is: Book called “Civil Rights,” edited by B.
Schwartz, 1970
Thank you!
Coming up on Thursday…FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE HISTORY – part 2
Lexis’ CIS Legislative History databaseWestlaw’s Graphical StatutesThomasGPO Access