1. Florida State University College of Law Research Center LEXIS NEXIS Congressional Trisha Simonds Fall 2010

2. Florida State University College of Law Research Center What is legislative history? A compilation of related documents produced by Congress that precede the enactment of a United States public law.A compilation of related documents produced by Congress that precede the enactment of a United States public law.

3. Florida State University College of Law Research Center Why compile legislative history? To determine legislative intent at the time the statute was enactedTo determine legislative intent at the time the statute was enacted To understand the meaning of specific language or terminologyTo understand the meaning of specific language or terminology To clarify the meaning of a statute if there are no cases interpreting itTo clarify the meaning of a statute if there are no cases interpreting it

4. Florida State University College of Law Research Center Hearings Reports Debates

5. Florida State University College of Law Research Center Accessing L/N Congressional From the Research Center’s homepage http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/ Click on “Research Resources”Click on “Research Resources” Click “Complete List of Law and…Related…”Click “Complete List of Law and…Related…” Click “LexisNexis Congressional”Click “LexisNexis Congressional”

6. Florida State University College of Law Research Center Current and historical L/N Congressional publications Legislative Histories (compiled)Legislative Histories (compiled) House and Senate Reports, including Conference ReportsHouse and Senate Reports, including Conference Reports Committee HearingsCommittee Hearings Congressional RecordCongressional Record Congressional Research Reports (CRS)Congressional Research Reports (CRS) Serial SetSerial Set More: Senate Executive Reports, Senate Treaty Documents, House and Senate Documents, and Committee PrintsMore: Senate Executive Reports, Senate Treaty Documents, House and Senate Documents, and Committee Prints

7. Florida State University College of Law Research Center Abbreviations Bills 110 S. 30 or 106 H. R. 275Bills 110 S. 30 or 106 H. R. 275 Committee Reports H. Rpt. 106-55 orCommittee Reports H. Rpt. 106-55 or S. Rpt. 111-10 S. Rpt. 111-10 Committee HearingsCommittee Hearings Hearing on H.R. 189 before the Comm. on the Judiciary, 109 th Cong. 51-76 (2006) Hearing on H.R. 189 before the Comm. on the Judiciary, 109 th Cong. 51-76 (2006) Session LawSession Law Pub. L. 106-386 Pub. L. 106-386

8. Florida State University College of Law Research Center

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18. Florida State University College of Law Research Center

19. General Order of Weight 1.Statute text 2.Conference report’s joint explanatory statement 3.Committee reports 4.Remarks, debates 5.Bill text in various versions 6.Witness statements in committee hearings 7.Prints, reports, signing statements, news articles From: Richard McKinney’s Federal History Research, p. 21 http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/fed-leg-hist.pdf http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/fed-leg-hist.pdf Last Updated Aug, 10, 2010 http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/fed-leg-hist.pdf

20. Thank you! Questions?