A meta-database from the federal government, the Government Publications Catalog is a federated search engine that searches multiple U.S. Federal government databases, retrieving reports, articles, and citations while providing direct links to selected resources available online. This is a new version (October, 2010) of the Government Publications Catalog and is also called Metalib because of its ability to search the catalog and other government databases.
Bills and Public Laws are identified by the Congressional session. Since 1934, the first session of a Congress convenes on January 3 of odd-numbered years and adjourns on January 3 the following odd-numbered year. Use this link to indentify the year and the Congressional session.
Find U.S. Senators
Find Senate Committees, including membership and links to hearings / meetings.
United States House of Representatives
Find U.S. Representatives by state.
Find House Committees
Educational Resources, including the legislative process (how laws are made) and historical documents (U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, and more)
Congressional Research Reports The Congressional Research Service (CRS) does not provide direct public access to its reports, requiring citizens to request them from their Members of Congress. Some Members, as well as several non-profit groups, have posted the reports on their web sites. This site is not affiliated with the Congressional Research Service, but aims to provide integrated, searchable access to many of the full-text CRS reports that have been available at a variety of different web sites since 1990.
The President of the United States - includes links to the Briefing Room, Issues, the Administration and Information about the White House.
The Presdent of the United States has the authority to pronounce executive orders. This site links to all major sources for these materials which includes Presidential directives, proclamations, signing statements, executive orders, memoranda, and other documents.
The Executive Departments and Agencies - click on each Cabinet Department for links to headquarters and sub-agencies
The Federal Register is the main source of information on proposed rules and regulations on approved legislation. A new source, GovPulse is an easy to use resource for finding and commenting on proposed rules and regulations.
Supreme Court of the United States
Legal databases:
Lexis-Nexis Database (SJSU Articles & Databases page) links to full text coverage of Supreme Court Reports, Lawyers' Edition
Westlaw (SJSU Articles & Databases page) links to full text coverage of the Supreme Court Reports. Also features links to full text historic Supreme Court Cases.
FedWorld free government database that has the full text of Supreme Court decisions from 1937-1975.
The Federal Judiciary - links to the Federal Courts of Appeals, U.S. District Courts and U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Congress.gov an easy way to find legislation, information about members of Congress and news about our Congress.
The Law Librarians' Society of Washington D.C. has assembled a Legislative Source Book that tracks the status of federal legislation and regulations.
Find Legislation and Records, including votes, Congressional Record, and a link to Congress.Gov site, the U.S. bill/law finder are good places to start..
The Dirksen Center has published on the Internet a Congressional Time Line of important legislation from 1939 to 2009. There is an interactive window for further exploration.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
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