Using the Congressional Record

The Congressional Record is a verbatim report of the proceedings of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Its earlier titles -- the Annals of Congress, the Register of Debates, and the Congressional Globe -- have been issued since 1789. The House and Senate proceedings include edited debates, voting records, legislative actions, and texts of selected bills.

Senators and Representatives may alter, delete, or insert material into the Congressional Record. Beginning in 1978, bullets were printed at the beginning and end of inserted remarks. The Senate has continued this practice; however, the House notation has varied.

In addition to the proceedings of the Senate and the House of Representatives, two additional sections comprise the Congressional Record: "Extensions of Remarks" and "Daily Digest." The "Extensions of Remarks" contains a wide variety of materials speeches, book excerpts, poems, recipes, and songs -- which has been included at the request of Congressional members. Summarizing Congressional activities, the "Daily Digest" includes actions on bills, votes, hearings, meetings, bill status, and the upcoming week's agenda.

Congressional Record Index

The Congressional Record Index, published biweekly during Congressional sessions, provides name and subject access to this report of Congressional activities. The "History of Bills and Resolutions," contained within the Index, documents the legislative process, with a page-reference history of legislative action on specific bills. "A" indicates material was originally included in "Extensions of Remarks," part of the appendix until 1968 (Volume 114). After that date, "Extensions of Remarks" was incorporated into thenumeric numbering system of the bound edition.

Online Access

LexisNexis Congressional: http://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp

99th - present Congress (1985 - present)

Available on campus or through remote access to the university network. From the home page, select "Publications."

GPO Access: http://www.gpoaccess.gov

104th - present Congress (1995 - present)

Thomas: http://thomas.loc.gov

101st - present Congress (1989 - present)

Finding the Congressional Record at Kent State