This is a collection of resources designed to enhance access to information produced by and about the U.S. Congress. Find the companion page at ESSL PS303 Page.
ProQuest Congressional
[Congressional Universe]
In this database you can find:
In ProQuest Congressional interfaces, note that the default setting is usually two years. Check the other default settings for each search as well.
Identifying and accessing full-text congressional publications
These include bills, hearings, committee reports, committee prints, statutes or laws, and the
Congressional Record (which is accessed through a separate interface). One interface
is for searches using text; for the other, you need document numbers prior to entry. Use
Index Terms whenever possible and type quotation marks around all exact phrases. Document
numbers, including classification numbers called SuDoc numbers, provide the fastest access to
congressional publications. Full-text congressional documents of all types are available
through the LexisNexis Congressional numeric search and the Library of Congress's
Thomas.
Legislative Histories, Bills & Laws
Plug in the document numbers you identify through your Congressional Publications
search.
Members & Committees
All of the information on committees is readily available on House and Senate committee web
sites, but the options for sorting data on members of congress is valuable.
Member Records:
Use to identify bills sponsored, the sources and amounts of the member's campaign
contributions, and financial disclosure records, as well as floor statements and votes and
biographical information.
Use "Look up a Member" to ensure that the database retrieves information about only one
person. The default setting is Senators, so when you Look up a Member in order to find a
representative, click on Representatives first.
Demographics:
Use this interface to identify and group
current members of Congress by gender, race, party affiliation, date of birth, religion,
previous military service, educational attainment, alma mater, year of election, and membership in
the House or Senate.
Congressional Record and Rules
Search the
Congressional Record for 1987 to the present. The Library of Congress and GPO Access
also provide full-text access to this title. The Library of Congress
Congressional Record has a good interface
but covers fewer years than LexisNexis.
Political News
Access the contents of three publications that cover Congressional news extensively:
The Hill,
Roll Call, and the
Washington Post. If you wish to search only one or two of these titles, click on the
checked boxes to deselect the other(s).
Legislative Resources at GovTrack
This is a free U.S. government source, and links to resources in FDsys and in other
government databases. These contain many resources that ProQuest/Lexis does not
offer.
U.S. House of Representatives
This resource contains what you expect: member information, links to committee
sites, and schedules.
U.S. Senate
Like the House site, this contains what students in this course expect to find.
But the
statistics,
lists, and links on the
Senate
Historical Office site are a treasure. Find useful and intriguing information about
votes, political parties and their leadership, and much more.
Congressional Budget Office
Provides Congress with cost estimates of proposed legislation. Plug in the bill
number, and the CBO will give you the legislation's estimated cost.
Congressional Research Service
There is no central online site for this body's reports, but a number of sites provide
access to some:
General Accounting Office / Government Accountability Office
Audits and evaluates government programs and activities. Most GAO reviews are
undertaken at the request of congressional committees.
Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
: Washington, DC: Bureau of the Census, 1978-
DOC.C3.134: -
GDL Reference & Main Stacks
Use the index to find data on congressional elections and many aspects of the House and
Senate, such as their racial composition.
America Votes: A Handbook of Contemporary Election Statistics. Washington, D.C.:
Congressional Quarterly. 1956-
324.73 Am38 -
Reference Library
This is the standard source for data about U.S. elections since 1950. Provides results for
presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial elections.
American FactFinder
This is the Census Bureau's tool for accessing 2000 and 2010 census data on the population
of all geographic entities, including congressional districts.
Federal Elections Commission
The
Disclosure Data
Search identifies the source and amount of all contributions to the campaigns of members of
Congress. Click on "Candidate Search" and enter the candidates name. Other useful
information can be found via the Individual Search.
FedStats
Find statistics available on U.S. government web sites, either by topic or by agency.
ProQuest
Statistical Insight
Limit your search by subject, title, geographic area, demographic characteristics, and
economic characteristics.
Opensecrets.org
Click on the Who Gets and Who Gives menus to find extensive data on contributors to
congressional campaigns.
Lobbyists Database
Provides data on funds devoted to lobbying by particular companies, lobbying firms,
individual lobbyists, or industries.
CQ Electronic
Library
FT
UIUC
Includes the
CQ Weekly,
CQ Encyclopedia of American Government, and other public affairs sources.
Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly,
1956-1998.
328.7305 COQA -
Main Stacks
Contains brief articles written in plain English on the status of bills, votes and
amendments, floor and committee activity, and other congressional news.
Congressional Quarterly Almanac. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 1948-2000.
328.7305 COQ -
GDL Reference & Main Stacks.
No source provides a better overview of Congressional activity during a given year. It
is continued by
CQ Almanac Plus.
CQ Almanac Plus. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 2001-
328.7305 COQ1 -
GDL Reference
Continues the
Congressional Quarterly Almanac.
Congress and the Nation. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 1965-
320.973 C76 -
GDL Reference
Provides analytic summaries of all legislative activity occurring during four-year
periods. Provides document numbers that facilitate the use of LexisNexis Congressional and
Thomas.
Congressional Digest
1921-
Features controversies in U.S. public policy.
National Journal
Focuses on current public policy issues.
Project Vote-Smart
Contains information on thousands of candidates' and officials' backgrounds, positions on
issues, voting records, campaign funds, and performance evaluations.
Almanac
of American Politics
. Washington, DC: National Journal, 1972-
FT
UIUC
328.73 Al62 -
ESSL Reference,
GDL Reference
Excellent, concise coverage of current elected US officials. Covers the presidency,
senators, representatives, and governors. Cites election results, individuals' records, and
committee memberships. Organized by state, indexed by topic and personal name.
America: History and Life
and Historical Abstracts
America: History and Life is a complete bibliographic reference to the history of the United
States and Canada from prehistory to the present. Published since 1964, the database comprises
almost 400,000 bibliographic entries. Historical Abstracts is your complete reference guide
to the history of the world from 1450 to the present, excluding the United States and Canada.
American Congressional Dictionary. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 2001.
328.73003 K869c 2001 -
ESSL Reference
Source of definitions and brief explanations of many of the terms and expression in current
use in the Congress. Focuses on the legislative process with many cross-references.
Congress A to Z: A Ready Reference Encyclopedia. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2003 (4th
ed).
328.73003 C76 2003 -
ESSL Reference
Provides an overview of the history and operation of Congress by broad subject area, as well
as non-technical explanations of congressional procedures.
Congress of the United States: Powers, Structure, and Procedures. Huntington, NY: Nova
Science Publishers, 2001.
328.73 C765 -
ESSL Reference
Essays on legislative powers, conference committee and related procedures, committees of the
Senate and House, amending process of the Senate and House, filibusters and more, include
documentary text and analysis with lots of references.
Congressional Districts in the 2000s: A Portrait of America, Washington, DC: CQ Press,
2003.
Q.328.7307345 C7621 -
ESSL Reference
This provides a state-by-state, district-by-district listing of information on population,
history, industry, and more, as well as appendices for census tables, measuring congressional
districts, high and low Congressional District rankings, redistricting court cases, and the
District of Columbia.
Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process
328.73 OL2c 1989 -
GDL Reference
Explains matters such as the congressional budget process, the scheduling of
legislative activities, legislative oversight, House-Senate differences, and House and Senate floor
procedures.
Congressional Quarterly's Guide to Congress. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2000 (5th
ed.).
Q.328.73 C7611g 2000 -
GDL Reference;
Undergrad Reference
This 2-volume set includes sections on the origins and development of Congress,
congressional powers, congressional procedures, pressures on Congress, the housing and support of
House and Senate members, pay and perquisites, Congress and the electorate, and qualifications and
conduct.
Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections. , 2001.
329.023 C761 1994 -
ESSL Reference
Contains election data for all major political offices since 1824. Data covers presidential,
Senate, House, and gubernatorial elections. Includes a detailed table of contents, a candidate
index, and a general index for easy access.
Congressional Quarterly's Politics in America 1996: The 104th Congress. Phillip D. Duncan
and Christine C. Lawrence. 1995.
328.73 P759 1996 -
ESSL Reference
A source for detailed biographical information about U.S. senators and representatives.
Editorial biographies include photos, election data, campaign finance reports, and analyses of
legislative influence and political alliances. Also includes special interest group ratings and
synopses of key votes.
CQ
Voting and Elections
CQ Voting and Elections Collection integrates a wealth of data, authoritative analyses,
concise explanations, and historical material to provide a powerful research and reference tool on
the American voter, major and minor political parties, etc. An associated database on
election results is also part of this resource.
Directory of Congressional Voting Scores and Interest Group Ratings. Washington, DC:
Congressional Quarterly, 2000, (3rd ed), 2 volumes.
Q328.730775 Sh23d 2000 -
ESSL Reference
Listing of voting scores and group ratings by individual for members from the 80th to the
105th Congress. Includes information on date of birth, religion, education, occupation, military
service, political background and election record with voting scores on four aspects and ratings
from ten organizations
Elections A to Z, Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2003 (2nd ed).
324.6097303 M784e -
ESSL Reference
Basic information on the many aspects of U.S. elections in one volume. No bibliography, but
a large amount of factual and statistical information. ESSL Reference - 324
Encyclopedia of the American Legislative System: Studies of the Principal Structures,
Processes, and Policies of Congress and the State Legislatures Since the Colonial Era. Joel
Silbey. 1994.
Q.328.73003 En19 -
ESSL Reference
This 3-volume encyclopedia is divided into six topical areas: the historical context of the
legislative system; recruitment and elections; structures and processes; behavior; legislatures and
public policy; and legislatures within the political system. Each section is composed of essays
written by noted authors.
Encyclopedia of the United States Congress, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995
Q.328.73003 En192 -
ESSL Reference
Medium to long essays concerning the work of the Congress with very rich bibliographies for
further research.
Facts about the Congress. New York : Wilson, 1996 -
328.7309 C462f -
ESSL Reference
Facts about the U.S. Congresses from the 1st to the 104th includes information about
important legislation, committee members, and much more. Includes bibliographical references and an
extensive index.
P.A.I.S. (Public Affairs
Information Service)
This is a bibliographic index with abstracts covering the full range of political, social,
and public policy issues. Topics covered include economic, political, and social issues, business,
finance, law, international trade and relations, public administration, government, political
science, and any topics that are or might become the subject of legislation. The database covers
selected journal articles, books, statistics, yearbooks, directories, conference proceedings,
pamphlets, reports, government documents, and microfiche. More than 1,600 journals and over 8,000
monographs are indexed each year. Coverage includes documents published worldwide in any of six
languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. The subject headings
and abstracts are in English. Covers 1972-present.
United States
Government Manual
. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register, 1974-
DOC.AE1.208/2: -
GDL Reference | 353 Un343u1 -
ESSL Reference
Provides complete information on agencies in all three branches of the U.S. government as
well as semi-official agencies and international organizations in which the U.S. participates. The
most recent volume is available in the Reference Library; the Education & Social Science
Library holds the year prior to the current volume.
University LibraryFor comments on this page contact: Government Information Services, Access and Collections
Last modified by: Jared Dunn on 7/2/12