2. Bills and Resolutions
A proposed law may be introduced in either the House or the Senate as a bill or a joint resolution. When a bill or a resolution is introduced, it is ordered to be printed and referred to one or more committees for review. Frequently there are multiple versions of the same bill because as bills are amended, or introduced for the first time in the other chamber after passing successfully in the first, a new version of the bill is required to be printed.
Resolutions are also legislation, but may be limited in effect to the Congress or one of its chambers. They may express the collective opinion of either the House or the Senate on a policy issue. Concurrent resolutions relate to the operations of Congress, including both chambers, or express the collective opinion of both chambers on public policy issues. Joint resolutions are considered to have the same effect as bills and require the approval of the President.
Indexes
| Title/Description | Years | Location |
Congressional Record (98th Congress +) |
1983+ |
|
Congressional Record (101st Congress +) |
1989+ |
|
LexisNexis Congressional Publications (full text, all bills, every stage) 101st Congress + |
1989+ |
|
Congressional Record (43rd Congress +) |
1873+ |
US Doc 506 |
Congressional Globe (23rd - 42nd Congress) |
1833-1873 |
US Doc 504 |
Register of Debates (18th- 25th Congress, 1st session) |
1824-1837 |
US Doc 502 |
The Debates and Proceedings (1st - 18th Congress, 1st session) |
1789-1824 | US Doc 500 |
Full Texts
| Title/Description | Years | Location |
LexisNexis Congressional Publications (full text, all bills, every stage) (101st Congress + ) |
1989+ |
|
All published versions of Bills (103rd Congress+) updated daily |
1993+ |
|
Thomas (Library of Congress) (101st Congress+) |
1989+ |
|
Bills and resolutions (97th Congress +) |
1981+ |
Microfiche Su Doc Y1.4/ |
Bills and resolutions (96th Congress) |
1979-1980 |
Microfiche Su Doc X96-1:H.R. etc |
Bills and resolutions (90th- 97th Congress) |
1965-1983 |
Law Library Microfiche US 201 |
Bills and resolutions in United States government publications (depository) [microform]. (85th-89th Congress, 1st sess.) |
1957-1965 |
Microprint 2 (at HD) |
Bills and resolutions (73rd-89th Congress) |
1933-1967 |
Microfiche S 550 |
Bills and resolutions (1st-72nd Congress) |
1789-1933 |
Film S 936 |
Bills and resolutions (76th -84th Congress) |
1939-1956 |
Center for Research Libraries #7080765 Available through HCL Interlibrary Loan |
Page Last Reviewed: September 16, 2008