Government Information Research Guide

Federal laws impact many aspects of daily life. Laws are created through the legislative process, and can be changed. Knowledge of the history and current status of legislation is important for researching social, economic, and political issues.

Congress proposes bills or makes resolutions, and passes laws. An elected Congress lasts two (2) years; it is divided into two (2) sessions, one for each year; e.g. 111th Congress, 1st Session, 2nd Session.

Abbreviations that are used for Congressional legislative documents are as follows:

The entire legislative process from a proposed bill through a published law is called the 'Legislative History'.

1. The first bill for that Session is numbered '1', e.g. 111th Congress, 1st Session, H.R. 1.
A bill will often have a short title, a working descriptive title, e.g. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
2. A bill is examined, and modified, by Congressional committees who issue 'Reports' to accompany the bill.
3. Debates on a bill in Congress are reported in the Congressional Record.
4. If a bill is passed by both houses of Congress it then goes to the President to sign into law.
5. Sometimes a bill goes to a conference of senators and representatives who settle differences between two versions of a bill; they issue 'Conference Reports'.
6. When a bill is approved it becomes a Public Law, designated by numbered Congress and a running number; e.g. Public Law 111-5 (111th Congress, 5th law), and printed as a paper booklet.
7. Public Laws are later compiled in bound series called the United States Statutes at Large.

Statutory Law

Refers to the bills that are proposed, and the laws originating from those bills that are passed by Congress.

Administrative Law

Also known as Regulatory Law. The rules and regulations issued by departments or agencies of the Federal government so it can, in its role as the Executive branch of government, enforce the law (the Constitution and statutes).

Case Law

Also known as Judicial Law. Law which originates in the court system to examine the validity of laws as they relate to the Constitution, existing law, or legal precedent.

Constitutional Law

Pertains to the United States Constitution and its amendments. For more details on the Constitution see The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation.

Treaties

Treaties, whether bilateral or multilateral, also have the force of U.S. law once they are ratified by the Senate.