|
Updated Jan. 17, 2008.
Prepared by Cheryl Nyberg.
Introduction
The Congressional Research Service (a division of the Library of Congress)
provides high-quality research and analysis for members of Congress. The
reports, studies, and issue briefs CRS staff create are succinct and
well-researched and many are regularly updated.
For many years, these reports were only available through commercial
subscriptions or by contacting individual members of Congress. CRS did not print
or distribute the reports to libraries. Today, scores of CRS reports are
available on the Internet.
This guide identifies online, print, and microfilm sources of CRS reports.
Guides
- University of Michigan Documents Center, Federal Government Resources,
Legislative Branch, Congressional Research Service Reports,
http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/fedlegis.html#crs. Links to a variety of
sources providing the text of CRS reports (including many sources listed
below).
- Debra L. Atkins, "Tracking Down Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Reports Easily," Law Library Lights, Vol. 46, No. 2, Winter 2002, at
28,
http://www.llsdc.org/lights/pdf/46_2.pdf.
Internet Sources
General
Several U.S. Representatives and federal agencies are making CRS reports
available through their websites. None of the sites is complete, however, so if
you are looking for a specific report you may need to consult several
collections.
- U.S. House of Representatives Rules Committee, Congressional Research
Service Reports,
http://www.house.gov/rules/crs_reports.htm. Contains reports that focus on
legislative procedures, committee, relations between the House and the Senate
and between Congress and the President, and the budget process.
- U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Selected Congressional
Research Service Reports,
http://www.house.gov/judiciary/crs.htm. Contains a small number of reports
from 1998 and earlier on issues under the Judiciary Committee's jurisdiction.
- National Library for the Environment, Congressional Research Service
Reports,
http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRS/index.cfm?&CFID=8688819&CFTOKEN=99532204.
Provides more than 1200 reports on environmental topics. Arranged by topic and
searchable by keyword.
- U.S. State Department, Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and
Issue Briefs,
http://fpc.state.gov/c4763.htm. Provides reports from June 1999 to date on
issues such as national security, foreign assistance, foreign relations,
nuclear proliferation, and other international topics.
Three members of the House of Representatives at one time provided about 300
CRS reports:
- U.S. Congressman Mark Green (WI), Index of Congressional Research Service
Reports,
http://www.house.gov/markgreen/crs.htm. Contains lists of issue briefs,
appropriations reports, short reports (under 6 pages), and long reports (more
than 7 pages). Arranged by title. Link not working,
11/6/03
- U.S. Congressman Congressman Christopher Shays (CT), CRS Products,
http://www.house.gov/shays/resources/leginfo/crs.htm. Contains lists of
issue briefs, appropriations reports, short reports (under 6 pages), and long
reports (more than 7 pages). Arranged by title. Link not
working, 11/6/03
- U.S. Congressman George Radanovich (CA), Index of Congressional Research
Service Reports,
http://www.radanovich.house.gov/crs.htm. Contains lists of issue briefs,
appropriations reports, short reports (under 6 pages), and long reports (more
than 7 pages). Arranged by title. Link not working,
11/6/03
Other sources include:
top
By Subject
Several libraries and other organizations provide online copies of selected
CRS reports by subject.
Print/Microfilm Sources
- Major Studies and Issue Briefs of the Congressional Research Service
is comprised of a printed index and companion microfilm collection. The Law
Library does not have either source, but the index is available at Suzzallo
Government Publications (JK1108.M353 at Reference) and the microfilm reels are
at Suzzallo Microforms Newspapers (Microfilm A6816). The UW Libraries catalog
includes individual records for CRS reports in this series beginning in 1916,
although before the 1970s the series contains relatively few documents.
Government Publications has also cataloged a number of individual reports
that they have obtained.
- Penny Hill Press,
http://www.pennyhill.com/, sells CRS reports. The website contains a list
by subject and includes abstracts.
- CRS reports are sometimes reprinted in Congressional committee hearings.
Use CIS Index & Abstracts (KF49.C62 at Reference Area) or LexisNexis
Congressional (via the UW Libraries
Information Gateway [UW Restricted]) to
search for Congressional Research Service.
- Copies of individual reports are available from your local Representative
to Congress. Several online Congressional directories are available:
top
More Information About the Congressional Research Service
About CRS,
http://www.loc.gov/crsinfo/whatscrs.html.
top
|
