LibGuides: Federal Legislative History: Introduction

Welcome to the Federal Legislative History Guide!

The term “legislative history” refers to documents generated as a bill works its way through the legislative process. Even bills not enacted into law may have a legislative history. Legislative histories are usually compiled so that the researcher can infer the statutory intent behind a law. The number and kinds of documents for a legislative history vary greatly and may include the text of the bill (including introduced, amended, and reported versions); conference reports; committee reports; House and Senate debates; statements made by sponsors; committee hearings, prints, and documents; presidential signing statements; reports from congressional agencies (such as the Congressional Research Service and Government Accountability Office); news coverage; post-enactment analysis; and the public law itself. Finally, some legislative histories might include all of these materials on related bills from past or current congressional sessions.

This guide provides an overview of how to find completed federal legislative histories and which sources to use to compile your own. In case you've forgotten the legislative process, check out the "I'm Just A Bill" video overview from School House Rock that's linked above. Be forewarned that although the state legislative process is similar to the federal process, many state legislative histories are not as inclusive, nor are there as many sources. Please consult a reference librarian or a state legislative history guide before attempting to compile a legislative history for a state law. For more assistance, please contact the Reference office at lawref@gmu.edu.