Legislative Histories: 09 - Concerned organizations

Begin Step-by-Step Research -- Research Tips

1. Identify the Public Law number
2. Locate and read overviews of the bill's history
   - Congressional Quarterly Almanac
   - U.S. Code Congressional & Administrative News
3. Retrieve a compiled legislative history list of bills, hearings, reports, debate, etc.
   - CIS Index: Legislative Histories
4. Retrieve the Bill Tracking Report
   - ProQuest Congressional
5. Retrieve the brief "Guide to Legislative History" list of bills, reports and debate
   - U.S. Statutes at Large
6. Retrieve the list of reports and documents by bill number(s)
   - CIS U.S. Serial Set Index, Part XIII, Index by Reported Bill Numbers, 1817-1969
7. Retrieve the list of reports, documents, and hearings by subject
   - ProQuest Congressional, Historical Indexes, 1789-1969
   - CIS U.S. Congressional Committee Hearings Index, 1833-1969
8. Retrieve articles from journals & newspapers
9. Search for information from organizations concerned with the issue
   - Gale Directory Library
10. Check other resources for information
    - Thomas
    - GPO Access
    - Other sites

Compile a list for researching potential organizations:

• participated in committee hearings
• mentioned in journal or newspaper articles
• topical keywords associated with the issue and the organizations

Search Gale Directory Library by the organizations' names or topical keywords to identify contact information, including web addresses.

Some journals or newsletters from professional organizations include legislative update sections to keep their members aware of changes in the law.