Research and Course Guides: POLS 104: Government and Politics: Congress and U S Government

Congressional Information Sources from the U.S. Government

Congress.gov
The official website for accurate, timely and complete U.S. federal legislative information. From the U.S. Library of Congress.
United States Senate
Members, committees, legislative activity and other reference/research content.
United States House of Representatives
Members, committees, legislative activity and other reference/research content.
Congressional Record
Keyword searchable version of the daily record of Congress; back through 1989.

Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Publications

"CQ Press is your first source for information on politics, policy, and people. We are the leading publisher of books, directories, subscriptions, and Web products on American politics, federal and state government, American institutions, campaigns and elections, current events, and world affairs. Our content is known for its objectivity, breadth and depth of coverage, and high standards of journalistic and editorial excellence." CQ is a private publisher, and very highly regarded.

CQ Electronic Library This link opens in a new window
This resource allows the political science, journalism and economics researcher to search all CQ resources at once. Includes CQ Researcher + Archive, CQ Weekly, CQ Almanac, and Political Handbook of the World.

CQ Almanac
Political science and journalism researchers will find an annual cumulation of original narrative accounts of every major piece of U.S. legislation that lawmakers considered during a congressional session going back 60 years. It includes charts, graphs and voting tables that allow the researcher to track the trends in policy debates and legislative outcomes.
CQ Magazine
CQ Magazine is a weekly magazine covering all aspects of congressional activity. "The CQ news team - by far the largest on Capitol Hill, with more than 100 reporters, editors and researchers - covers virtually every act of Congress, delivering nonpartisan news and analysis unavailable anywhere else."

CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Political scientists, journalists & economics researchers are going to find original information on health care, criminal justice, political and social trends, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the economy. Each report includes an overview; background and chronology on the topic; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions; and bibliographies of key sources.

Other Congressional Resources

Congressional Votes Database (Washington Post)
Includes voting records back to the 102nd Congress (1991 - 92)
Bipartisan Policy Center
"the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation and respectful dialogue."