Finding and tracking federal bills and laws: Finding Laws

Proquest Congressional (1789-Present)​

Congress.gov 1989-present. Organized by congress.

Statutes at Large (Hein) Organized by congressional session.

• The Statutes at Large provides the text of laws from 1789- but bill number searching is only available from 1963- .

Digest of Public General Bills 

• Bill index only. Use cross-index to find citation to law.

Congressional Record Index

• Use History of Bills and Resolutions section to find citation to law. [PL citation not always given]

Proquest Congressional (1789-Present)

GovInfo.gov (Public and Private Laws) 1995-present.

Statutes at Large (Hein) 1789-present. Organized by congressional session.

Proquest Congressional (1789-Present)

U.S. Code KF61 .U5 Main Library Consulting Reference, 1 East

Proquest Congressional and Govinfo.gov full-text keyword search of laws.

Congress.gov (Bill Summary and Status) 1973-present. Search by combination of keyword, subject, sponsor/co-sponsor or stage in legislative process (eg. public law). Organized by congress.

Statutes at Large (Hein)

• Keyword searching, as well as subject and popular name index. 1789-present. By congressional session.

Digest of Public General Bills 

• Organized by congressional session. Indexes bills.
• Use cross-index to find citation to law. Also: sponsor, co-sponsor, identical bill and short title indexes. Subject index not comprehensive.
• Provides bill history and status also, including floor action, dates, roll call vote summary.

Congressional Record Index Organized by congressional session. Indexes bills.

• Use History of Bills and Resolutions section to find citation to law.