Congressional Legislation @ Your Fingertips:

Using THOMAS, the Library of Congress Web Site for Federal Legislative Information

"Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government. . . ."

Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, Jan. 8, 1789,

The Thomas Jefferson Papers , Library of Congress.

Bloggers, pundits, advocacy groups, and others vie for the public’s attention as Congress debates the issues of the day. Becoming a well-informed citizen can be challenging. THOMAS, the Library of Congress Web site for federal legislative information, offers the public an opportunity to search and read legislation, track its progress from bill to law, and follow congressional debates. It contains links to related government resources and educational materials, plus historical congressional documents.

Learn tips and techniques for using this valuable research tool by joining Pamela Craig, Senior Legal Research Specialist in the Law Library at the Library of Congress, for an introduction to THOMAS. We will explore the site, conduct searches for the latest legislation, and sample the site’s many links and resources designed and compiled to provide for the needs of a well-informed citizenry.

THOMAS - http://thomas.loc.gov/

Introduction and Overview

About THOMAS - http://thomas.loc.gov/home/abt_thom.html

Government Resources - http://thomas.loc.gov/links/

U. S. Congress from External Sites

• Biographical Directory of the U. S. Congress, 1774 to Present - http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp
• Résumés of Congressional Activity - http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/two_column_table/Resumes.htm

For Teachers - http://thomas.loc.gov/teachers/

Related Resources at the Library:

A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation - http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lawhome.html

Learn:

· The Legislative Process - http://thomas.loc.gov/home/laws_made.html

· Congressional Glossary - http://thomas.loc.gov/home/definitions/index.html

Legislation

Current Congress

Search Example: Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 (111^th Congress, S. 407)

Gateway page: - http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.111s407

• Titles page - http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.111s407
• Text of Legislation – 4 versions page - http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S407:
• Text of Legislation -
• All Congressional Actions
• Congressional Record (CRS 2084)
• Senate Report 111-24 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/R?cp111:FLD010:@1(sr024):
• Roll Call Vote no. 419 - http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll419.xml
• CBO Cost Estimates - http://www.cbo.gov/cedirect.cfm?bill=s407&cong=111
• Congressional Research Service (CRS) Summary - http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.111s407

Previous Congresses; Varied Searches

Advanced Bill Summary & Status Search for the 111^th Congress - http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/

Bill Summary & Status for the 110^th Congress - http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/110search.html

Multiple Congresses - http://thomas.loc.gov/home/multicongress/multicongress.html

Public Laws - http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/d111laws.html

Miscellaneous

Appropriations Bills - http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app10.html

Sponsor Summaries (Bill Summary and Status Search Page) - http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html