Comparing Federal & Illinois Legislative History Research

suggestions, hearings, messages

bill

• microfiche collection (1984–85 to current)
• GPO Access (1993–94 to current)
• Thomas (1989–90 to current)
• LexisNexis Congressional (1989–90 to current)
• LexisNexis (1989–90 to current)
• Westlaw (1995–96 to current)

• microfilm (1877–1986) or microfiche (1987–98) from state
• Illinois General Assembly website* (90th GA (1997–98) to current)
• Westlaw (1991–current)
• LexisNexis current session only

hearings

• CIS (1970–83) or GPO (1983–current) microfiche collections
• GPO Access (1995–96 to current, selected)
• Thomas → available through links to committee Web sites
• LexisNexis Congressional (1988–current)

• House — audiotaped; must request
• Senate conducts hearings but does not record them

committee report

• CIS (1970–83) or GPO (1983–current) microfiche collections
• USCCAN (1948–current, selected reports only, arranged by P.L. No.)
• GPO Access (1995–96 to current)
• Thomas (1995–96 to current)
• LexisNexis Congressional (1990–current)
• LexisNexis (1990–current)
• Westlaw (1948–89, selected; 1990–current, complete)

very brief: "Do Pass", "Do Not Pass", "Do Pass As Amended;" included in Legislative Synopsis & Digest (1917–current)

• Illinois General Assembly website* included in bill status reports on from 77th GA (1971–1972) to current
• Westlaw included in bill status reports from 91st GA (1999–2000) to current (Illinois Legislative History Reports (IL-LH-REP))

transcript

• Congressional Record
• GPO Access (1994–current)
• Thomas (1989–90 to current)
• LexisNexis Congressional (1985–current )
• LexisNexis (1985–current )
• Westlaw (1985–current )

• transcript available on microfiche (1977–98)
• Illinois General Assembly website* (transcripts from 77th GA (1971–72) to current)
• Westlaw from 91st GA (1999–2000) to current (in Illinois Legislative History Testimonies (IL-LH-TMY))

conference report

same as 4

if issued, conference reports can be found in Journal of one of the chambers of the General Assembly

see step 7 for sources

presidential message

• Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
• GPO Access (1993–current)
• LexisNexis (1979–current)
• Westlaw (1986–current, signing statements; 2000 to current, messages)

• print: separately published journals of each chamber, House & Senate
• Illinois General Assembly website* (91st GA (1999–2000) to current)
• Westlaw from 91st GA (1999–2000) to current (Illinois Legislative History Journals (IL-LH-JRNLS))