Federal (U.S.) Legislation Research

Records of Congressional proceedings were published by commercial publishers until 1873, when the United States Government Printing Office started publishing the Congressional Record. Richard J. McKinney of the Federal Reserve Board Law Library has written an article,  An Overview of the Congressional Record and Its Predecessor Publications, which provides information about the history of the following publications.

Journals of the Continental Congress

• The Library of Congress has a digital version.
• Microfiche from 1774 to 1789 is available at KF 4505 .C658 1904b.  Its index (also microfiche) is at KF4505.C659 1976

Papers of the Continental Congress

• Microfilm from 1774 to 1789 is available at J 10 .A5 1980.  Its index is in the first seven reels.  An explanation to the index is on the first reel, page V.

Secret Journals of the Acts & Proceedings of Congress

• The Library of Congress has included this material in its online Journals of the Continental Congress.
• Microfiche from 1775 to 1788 is available at J 10 .A5 1980.

Annals of Congress

• The Library of Congress has a digital version.
• Microfilm from 1789 to 1824 is available at KF 35 .U58. There is an index at the beginning of each session of Congress.

Register of Debates

• The Library of Congress has a digital version.
• Microfilm from 1825 to 1837 is available at KF 35 .U58.  There is an index at the beginning of each session of Congress.

Congressional Globe

• The Library of Congress has a digital version.
• Microfilm from 1834 – 1873 is available at KF 35. U58.  There is an index at the beginning of each session of Congress.

Abridgment of the Debates of Congress

This title consists of documents compiled from Annals of Congress, Register of Debates, & Congressional Globe.

• Paper volumes from 1789 to 1956 are available on the third floor of the library at J 15.B4 1857.  There is an index at the end of each volume.

Congressional Record

• Electronic text of the index  from 1983 to present is available on Govinfo.
• PDF issues of the daily edition from 1994 to present are available on Govinfo.  The more recent issues are digitally signed.
• Digitally signed PDF and text volumes of the bound edition from 1999 to 2016 (the most recent bound edition) are available on Govinfo.
• Paper issues of the daily edition from 1983 to present are in the Richey Reading Room at KF 35.U58 Its bimonthly indexes are shelved next to it.
• Microfiche issues of the daily edition from 1977 to present are in the Richey Reading Room at KF 35 .U58 There is a cumulative index after each session.
• Microfilm issues from 1874 to 1976 are in the Richey Reading Room at  KF 35 .U58.  There is an index for each session.