Law

What is legislative history?

Legislative history is a term that refers to the documents that are produced by Congress as a bill is introduced, studied, and debated. The proceedings leading to the enactment of a statute, including hearings, committee reports, and floor debates. Legislative history is sometimes recorded so that it can later be used to aid in or influence interpretations of the statute.

What's the purpose to search for legislative history? Students at CMU research legislative history purposed for different classes. Here are some examples:

• to understand the context in which a law was enacted;
• to understand the intent and the policy-making goals of the legislators who proposed a bill;
• to track developments in the law.

What types of documents related to legislative history?

The legislative histories include the Public Law; House and Senate Documents; House, Senate, and Conference Reports; House and Senate Committee Hearings; Congressional Debates (Congressional Record); related Bills; and Presidential Signing Statements.

How to search a legislative history?

A legislative history consist of the bill and its successive amendments, remarks by the bill's sponsors, floor discussion and debate, committee hearings, committee reports and committee prints. These documents can be researched via Westlaw. You can also search HeinOnline U.S. Federal Legislative History Library.

References for interested users

• How laws are made by USA.gov
• Grade School - How a Bill Becomes a Law by House.gov
• The Legislative Process by House.gov