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Congressional Record

What is the Congressional Record?

Before 1873, records of congressional proceedings were known by the following titles:

Annals of Congress (1789-1824),
Register of Debates (1824-1837)
Congressional Globe (1833-1873)

Image: Congressional record has face lifted.

Congressional record has face lifted. Washington, D.C., Jan. 4. The first copy of the Congressional record for the 76th session came off the presses today with a new face. Rep. Joseph W. Byrns, Jr., examines a copy of the Congressman's 'bible' which will henceforth carry the United States Seal on the front page, 1/4/39
Glass negative
Prints and Photographs Division Reproduction Number:
LC-DIG-hec-25715

Finding the Congressional Record Online:

Online/Subscription - On site use only

Public Documents Masterfile -- Coverage: 1700s-
Hein Online -- Coverage:1^st Congress- , 1789-
(Choose U.S.Congressional Documents from the list)
ProQuest Congressional-- Coverage: 1^stCongress- , 1789-
(Please note the two sections: "Congressional Record Only" and "Daily Congressional Record and Rules")

Online/Free - Access Anywhere

Century of Lawmaking -- Coverage: 1^st- 42^nd Congress (1789-1873 )
Thomas -- Coverage: 101 ^st Congress- , 1989-
FDsys (GPO) -- Coverage: 103^rdCongress- , 1994-

Finding the Congressional Record in Paper

Main Reading Room Reference Collection -- Coverage: 1921-2009
Law Library -- Coverage: complete run in stacks; indexes available in the Law reference collection.
Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room Reference Collection -- Coverage: Daily and indexes for latest calendar year.

Finding the Congressional Record in Microform:

Microform Reading Room -- Coverage: 1^st- 104^th Congress (1789-1995)
Government Depository Collection:

The Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room keeps the latest
ten years of the Congressional Record in print or on microfiche as part
of the U.S. Federal Government Depository Collection. A SuDoc number
is necessary in order to request these. GPO's Catalog of U.S. Government Publications can help you find the SuDoc numbers.

Supplemental Resources:

History of Bills FDsys (GPO): The History of Bills lists legislative actions on bills that are reported in the Congressional Record.

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The Library of Congress >> Researchers
August 3, 2012

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