CONGRESSIONAL UNIVERSE
Guide for University of Michigan Affiliates
Legislative Sources in Universe
Bills |
Citations |
Code of Federal Regulations |
Committee Calendars |
Committee Prints
Committees |
Congress Daily |
Congressional Record |
Documents
Federal Register |
Floor Votes |
Hearings |
Members
National Journal |
Public Laws |
Reports |
United States Code
Legislative Sources Not in Universe
Background Information |
Committee Markups |
Committee Votes |
CRS Reports
Floor Calendars |
Lobby Groups |
Presidential Action
Related Web Pages
Universe Quick Guide |
Legislative Histories |
Legislative Histories Tutorial
Last updated on October 25,
2004
Congressional Universe is a web-based indexing and
abstracting service for Congressional committee publications,
including hearings (testimony), committee prints, reports,
documents, and public laws. It also includes
the full text and status of bills, selected testimony,
regulations, and two periodicals, National
Journal and Congress Daily.
Additional features include Member directories and campaign contributions
and a guide to creating citations. The publisher, Congressional
Information Service, is an affiliate of LEXIS-NEXIS, so much of the full
text is identical to material found in the LEXIS on-line data base.
This guide is arranged by stage of the legislative process. It cites
sources provided by Universe at each stage with references to alternative
sites
which do not require a subscription if they available. Congressional Universe Quick Guide is a
shorter chart of Congressional Universe features. Legislative
Histories in the United States Congress places Congressional
Universe within the context of the entire legislative process and should
be consulted when doing extensive research.
Congressional Universe is a web-based
product. The URL is: http://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp/.
It is available through the University of Michigan network to all
workstations on campus and to current University students, faculty and s
taff who connect via an ITD telecommunications package to an Ann Arbor NAS
telephone number (734-489-2222). It cannot be accessed by University
affiliates
through commercial services, such as America On-Line, or through MICHNET telephone numbers throughout the State.
Most files can be searched by
Keyword
- Boolean Operators
AND [e.g. nuclear and weapons]
OR [e.g. nuclear or atomic]
AND NOT [e.g. nuclear and not atomic]
ATLEASTn [e.g. atleast5 (budget)] (budget must appear 5
times)
ALLCAPS [e.g. allcaps (AIDS)]
NOCAPS [e.g. nocaps (mace)]
- Proximity Indicators
Phrases are assumed
[e.g. tax reform]
W/S [e.g. pakistan w/s india] (words in same sentence)
Not W/S [e.g. pakistan not w/s india] (words not in same
sentence
W/P [e.g. pakistan w/p nuclear] (words in same
paragraph)
Not W/P [e.g. pakistan not w/p nuclear] (words not in
same paragraph)
W/n [e.g. clinton w/5 health care] (words within 5 of
one another in any order)
Not W/n [e.g. clinton not w/5 health care] (words not
with 5 of one another)
PRE/n [e.g. Martin pre/2 King] (first word within 2 of
second word)
Not PRE/n [e.g. New not pre/1 York] (first word not
within 1 of second)
- Search Segments can be used with keyword searching;
segment first with term in parentheses
descriptors (freedom of speech)
committee (foreign relations)
title (agent orange)
summary (free trade)
bills (S. 1)
testimony (nader)
- Truncation Symbols
Truncation symbol for single letter is * [e.g.
wom*n]
Truncation symbol for multiple letters is ! [e.g. child!]
- Date may be searched as keyword in many files [e.g. Sept. 19, 1996]
- Year (for hearings) or Congress (for other publications)
Publications files may also be searched by a pre-defined subject term
Special protocols for individual files
DefinitionBills are proposed legislation prior to their passage into law. S. and H.R. are the most common designations for bill numbers. Additional designations include: S.J.R
and H.J.R (joint resolutions which can also become
public law); S.Res. and H.Res.
(simple resolutions for housekeeping details); S.Con.Res.
and H.Con.Res. which express an opinion of
Congress. Bill Status refers to the legislative
process. It normally includes introduction, referral to committee,
committee hearings, markup and votes, reports, discussion on the floor,
chamber referral, and final decision by the President.
Full Text, 1989+
- Update Frequency
- Access under Bills, Laws, and Regulations/Bills
- Alternative access under Congressional Publications/Search the Full Text of Bills
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Sponsor
- Congress
- Bill number
- Links from Legislative History, hearing, committee print, report and document searches
- Location of Publications: hot link to full text
- Public Access Alternatives:
- THOMAS, 1993+
- Search under Bills by subject, bill number, date, sponsors, committee, and latest stage in legislative process (e.g. committee referral)
- GPO Access, 1993+
Bill Status, 1989+
- Update Frequency
- Daily although THOMAS may be more current in some cases
- Access under Bills, Laws, and Regulations/Bill Tracking
- Information Included
- Summary of bill
- Citations to Congressional Record
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Sponsor
- Congress
- Bill number
- Links to hearings, committee prints, and reports are best found by
searching the bill number under Congressional Publications
- Public Access Alternatives:
- THOMAS, 1973+
- Search under Bills by subject, bill number, date, sponsors, committee, and latest stage in legislative process (e.g. committee referral)
- GPO Access, 1983+
DefinitionSchedule of bills being considered by committee, hearings, markups, and bill status.
Index and Abstracts, 1980's+
- Access under Congressional Publications/Explore All Congressional Publications
- Page down to Committee search
- Search Capabilities
- Committee with type of publication as "print"
- Location of Publications
- Hot link to full text beginning 1993
- Available in Documents Center as paper (Y4.Ag8/1-12:996) or microfiche (97-CIS-H162-2)
- Public Access Alternatives:
- Paper and microfiche available on walk-in basis in Documents Center
Full Text, Current Only
- Access under Members and Committees/Committees
- Search Capabilities
- Location of Publications: hot link to full text
- Public Access Alternatives:
Definition
Testimony by experts, lobbyists, and Executive Branch officials before a committee in question-and-answer format. Most hearings include appendices with submitted reports.
Index and Abstracts, 1970+
- Update Frequency
- Monthly after full text of publication printed
- Access under Congressional Publications/Explore All Congressional Publications
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Subject
- Year
- Date searched as keyword (e.g. Sept. 19, 1996)
- Committee
- Title
- Witness
- Bill Number
- CIS Legislative Histories (e.g. Law Number)
- Location of Publications
- All publications on microfiche in Documents Center (e.g. CIS 96-S241-14)
- Selected publications in Documents Center in paper (e.g. Y4.B22/3:S.Hrg. 104-59)
- Hot links to full text in abstract for selected publications, 1988+
- Public Access Alternatives
Full Text, 1988+
- Update Freqency
- Access under Congressional Publications
- Page down to bottom to Search the Full Text of Testimony
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Witness
- Committee
- Year
- Date searched as keyword (e.g. Sept. 19, 1996)
- Links from bill number and Legislative History searches in other
sections of Universe
- Location of Publications: hot link to full text
- Public Access Alternatives
- Most hearings are not available free-of-charge on the Internet
- See the Documents Center's Congressional
Hearings for a description of the various Internet alternatives
- University of Michigan Alternatives
- This is the same data base as LEXIS, available to students and faculty pursuing class assignments
- Testimony and submitted statements also available through the LEGI-SLATE On-Line Service for all University of Michigan affiliates
DefinitionResearch reports intended for committee use.
Index and Abstracts, 1970+
- Update Frequency
- Monthly after publication of paper copy
- Access under Congressional Publications/Explore All Congressional Publications
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Subject
- Congress
- Committee
- Title
- Bill Number
- CIS Legislative Histories (e.g. Law Number)
- Location of Publications
- All publications on microfiche in Documents Center (e.g. CIS 89-S382-2)
- Selected publications in Documents Center in paper (e.g. Y4.F76/1-15:988)
- Hot links to full text in abstract for publications, 1993+
- Public Access Alternatives
Full Text, 1993+
- Access under Congressional Publications
- Page down to bottom to Search the Full Text of Committee Prints
Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Committee
- Congress
- Links from bill number and Legislative History searches in other
sections of Universe
- Location of Publications: hot link to full text
- Public Access Alternatives: None
Definition
- Markups are committee meetings held after the committee has gathered
information about a bill to make changes in the bill and to vote on a
referral to the floor for consideration
- Markups are usually covered by the press rather than official
government sources
Not available in Universe
University of Michigan Alternative
- LEGI-SLATE On-line Services includes full text of all markups beginning 1991
- LEGI-SLATE Guide
Definition
- Vote by committee members after have considered a bill
- Vote recommends consideration to the entire floor
Not available in Universe
University of Michigan Alternative
DefinitionPrimarily recommendations by a committee to its own floor on the passage of a bill.
Index and Abstracts, 1970+
- Update Frequency
- Monthly or more frequently
- Access under Congressional Publications/Explore All Congressional Publications
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Subject
- Congress
- Committee
- Title
- Bill Number
- CIS Legislative Histories (e.g. Law Number)
- Location of Publications
- All publications on microfiche in Documents Center (e.g. CIS 97-H263-3)
- Current publications in Documents Center in paper (e.g. Y1.1/8:105-145) with older volumes
in the bound Serial Set
- Hot links to full text in abstract for publications, 1989+
- Public Access Alternatives
Full Text, 1989+
- Access under Congressional Publications
- Page down to bottom to Search the Full Text of Reports
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Committee
- Congress
- Links from bill number and Legislative History searches in other
sections of Universe
- Location of Publications: hot link to full text
- Public Access Alternatives:
DefinitionPrimarily communications from the Executive Branch to Congress, including Presidential Vetoes
Index and Abstracts, 1970+
- Update Freqency
- Access under Congressional Publications/Explore All Congressional Publications
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Subject
- Congress
- House/Senate
- Title
- Bill Number
- CIS Legislative Histories (e.g. Law Number)
- Location of Publications
- All publications on microfiche in Documents Center (e.g. CIS 97-H180-27)
- Selected publications in Documents Center in paper (e.g. Y1.1/7:105-96) with older documents in the bound Congressional Serial Set
- Hot links to full text in abstract for publications, 1995+
- Public Access Alternatives
Full Text, 1995+
- Access under Congressional Publications
- Page down to bottom to Search the Full Text of Documents
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- House/Senate
- Congress
- Links from bill number and Legislative History searches in other
sections of Universe
- Location of Publications: hot link to full text
- Public Access Alternatives:
Not currently available in Universe
Public Access Alternatives
DefinitionFull text of debates and proceedings on the floor of the House and Senate as well as voting and extra background material inserted by Members of Congress.
Full Text, 1985+
- Update Frequency
- Access under Congressional Publications/Search the Full Text of Congressional Record
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword (must appear in title or five times in text)
- Bill number (if searched as keyword)
- Congress
- Speaker (free text permitted; list of Members only for current Congress)
- Date (separate search; cannot be combined with keyword or speaker)
- Congressional Record citation
- Citations only from CIS Legislative Histories (e.g. Law Number) and bill status (tracking)
- Location of Publications: hot link to text
- University of Michigan Alternative
- LEXIS provides additional search capabilities, including proximity flags and specific dates or date ranges
- Must be used by students or faculty for completion of class assignment
- Advance signups usually needed at Documents Center and Information Center
- Public Access Alternatives
- Paper edition of Congressional Record, 1873+, available in the Graduate Library with current years in the Documents Center (J 11.R)
- THOMAS, 1993+
- Searchable by a combination of keyword, house, speaker, and specific date and browsable by date
- Results not always relevant because there are no proximity connectors between speaker and subject
- GPO Access, 1994+
Universe
University of Michigan Alternatives
- Congressional Quarterly
Almanac (Doc. Cen. JK 1.C765) and CQ Weekly Report (Doc. Cen. JK 1 .C12)
- LEGI-SLATE On-Line Service, 1979+
Public Access Alternatives
DefinitionA consolidation of links to all of the bills and publications related to a law as well as a summary of the law.
Index and Abstracts, 1970+
Update Frequency
- Added to the data base annually after close of year
- Access under Bills, Laws, and Regulations
- Alternative under Congressional Publications/Explore All Congressional Publications
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword and Date
- Law Number
- Statutes-at-Large Citation
- Bill Number
- Information Provided
- Citations to hearings, prints, reports, and documents as well as full-text when applicable
- Full text of debates in Congressional Record
- Full text of all bill versions
- Bill tracking reports
- Summary version of law
- Public Access Alternative:
- Corresponding paper copy available to the public in the Documents Center on a walk-in basis
Full Text of Public Laws
- Availability
- Not available as of August 1997
- Will be added from main menu under Bills
- Public Access Alternatives
- THOMAS, 1973+
- Search under Public Law by law number
- Search under Bills by subject, bill number, date, sponsors, committee, and latest stage in legislative process (e.g. Public Law)
- GPO Access, 1995+
DefinitionFull text of existing law in force.
Full Text
Update Frequency
- Access under Bills, Laws, and Regulations
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword and Date
- Law Number
- Statutes-at-Large Citation
- Bill Number
- Information Provided
- Full text of law in context
- Public Access
Alternatives
DefinitionFull text of Executive and independent agency regulations, proposed regulations, and notices of grants and hearings. Regulations are designed to carry out the intent of a law.
Full Text, 1980+
- Update Frequency
- Access under Bills, Laws and Regulations/Regulations
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Agency
- Type of Action
- Specific date
- Federal Register citation
- CFR Citation
- Location of Publications: hot link to text
- Public Access Alternatives
Definition: Text of all executive and independent agency regulations in force
Full Text, 1980+
- Update Frequency
- Access under Bills, Laws and Regulations/Regulations
- Search Capabilities
- Keyword
- Agency
- CFR citation
- United States Code authority
- Location of Publications: hot link to text
- Public Access Alternatives
Committee Membership (current)
- Access under Members and Committees/Committees
- Includes committee and subcommittee membership
- Search Capability: Name of Committee
- Public Access Alternatives
Committee Calendars
Committee Publications, 1968+
- Access under Congressional Publications/Explore All Congressional Publications
- Search Capabilities
- Committee
- Year
- Type of publication (hearing, print, report, document)
See Legislative Histories/Committees for additional resources
Citation guide found under How Do I...
Public Access Alternative: Citation Guides
Grace York, Coordinator, Documents Center
The University of Michigan Library
Comments and suggestions to Grace York
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/compass.html
Since August 22, 1997 this page has been accessed 
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Description