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Journal Source Gathering

The purpose of this guide is to help senior and junior journal staff members through the source gathering process. This guide covers the most reliable sources for some of the most used items found on subscription databases and on the Internet.

Finding Legislative Documents

Links for Federal Legislative Materials - databases with more comprehensive coverage

 

Specific Legislative History document types:

Bills

Congressional Reports, Documents and Prints

Congressional Record (contains Congressional debates)

Bills 
Federal:   H.R.*= House Bill  (*do not confuse with House Report-H.Rpt.)
                 S.=Senate Bill
                       example: H.R. 1 or S.1
N.Y.:  AB=Assembly Bill
          S.= Senate Bill

 

 
 Hearings 
Federal:  H.Hrg=House Hearing
               S.Hrg=Senate Hearing
example: S.Hrg 108-383 or H.Hrg 108-383

 

 
Committee Reports 
Federal:  H.Rpt= House Report*   (*do not confuse with HR which is for House bill)
               S.Rpt=Senate Report
example: H.Rpt 111-299 or S.Rpt 110-470
 
Debates :  
Federal:  CR or Cong.Rec=Congressional Record

 

bill goes through process in other chamber.

 

Conference Report

Federal:  H.Rpt, H.Conf.Rpt=House Conference Report (may be same as for House Report)

               S.Rpt=Senate Conference Report (same as for Senate Report)

example: H.Rpt 111-89

 

Federal:  Presidential Signing Statement

WCPD=Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

DCPD=Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents

NY:  Governor's Memorandum in Support

 

Federal:  Public Law
P.L.=Public Law
 example: P.L. 111-148
 
N.Y.: Chapter Law
c or ch = Chapter
 example: c. 428 ; Ch. 428
 
 
 

See Bluebook Rule 13 for citing rules.