Legal Research Guides

Posted October 11, 1999.
Prepared by Mary Whisner.

1. Introduction
2. Electronic Sources
3. Research Guides and Bibliographies--International Law
4. Directories
5. Library Catalogs - Tips for Economic Development
6. Periodical Indexes Useful for Economic Development Research
7. Sources of International Law
8. Treaty Indexes
9. Treaty Collections
10. Updating U.S. Treaties
11. Custom, Principles, Teachings
12. International Cases
13. United Nations
14. Federal Legislative Materials

Introduction

• When you research topics in economic development, you will look for and use different types of information: laws, cases, and regulations from national bodies; treaties; cases and other materials from international tribunals; scholarly discussions of the law; news stories; policy studies.
• You will find this information in different types of sources (or formats): books, periodicals, microfiche and microfilm, locally mounted databases, commercial online services, Internet sites.
• And you will obtain those sources in different locations, using different methods: at this library, at other libraries on campus, through interlibrary loan, on library terminals, through your own computer, in the Computer Lab.
• What this means is that you may need to be creative and flexible in your research and to plan ahead in order to gather the materials you need.
• Since many of you will have topics dealing with foreign law, we will use Research in Foreign and Comparative Law, http://lib.law.washington.edu/ref/forcomp.htm, for most of our class session. This guide supplements Research in Foreign and Comparative Law with some some sources that should be especially useful for research in international development.

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Electronic Sources

• INTINDIGENOUS@abanet.org (Working Group on Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development, American Bar Association; international law, environmental law, native peples, tribal law, aborigines, etc.). To subscribe, send the following message to listserv@abanet.org: subscribe intindigenous Your Name
• ITCP@csf.colorado.edu (International Trade and Commercial Policy; list hosted by Communications for a Sustainable Future; includes Foreign Policy In Focus newsletter, a joint project of the Interhemipsheric Resource Center (IRC) and the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS); international trade and economic law; international affairs, relations). To subscribe, send the following message to listproc@csf.colorado.edu: subscribe itcp Your Name (archived at http://csf.colorado.edu/lists/itcp/).
• SUSTAINABLE-DEVELOPMENT@world.std.com (Sustainable Development list). To subscribe, send the following message to majordomo@world.std.com: subscribe sustainable-development
• TENURE@relay.doit.wisc.edu (Rights to Land and Other Natural Resources; sustainable development, poverty and income distribution, related laws and institutions, etc.). To subscribe, send the following message to listserver@relay.doit.wisc.edu: subscribe tenure Your Name .
• TRADEDEV@igc.org (BRIDGES Weekly Trade News Digest; international trade, World Trade Organization, European Union, etc.; published by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development and edited by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy; international trade and economic law).To subscribe, send the following message to majordomo@igc.org: subscribe tradedev (archived at http://www.ictsd.org/html/newsdigest.htm and related page at http://www.ictsd.org/ and http://www.igc.apc.org/).

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Research Guides and Bibliographies--International Law

• ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law, http://www.asil.org/resource/Home.htm. Project of the American Society of International Law. Includes sections on the United Nations, treaties, and international environmental law. International economic law section has subdivision on international development.
• Peter I. Hajnal, ed., International Information: Documents, Publications, and Electronic Information of International Government Organizations, 2d ed. JZ 4850.I58 1997 at Reference Office. Comprehensive research text on IGOs.
• International Law Video Course. Produced by Seton Hall University School of Law in cooperation with the American Society of International Law. JX1291.I58 1996 at Reserve. 10 part series. Not a research guide, but a good overview of the nature and sources of international law, law of treaties, and international organizations.

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Directories

• Encyclopedia of Associations, HS17.G334 1999 at Reference Office (most recent edition is in Collection Development Office) and Encyclopedia of Associations--International Organizations, AS8.E53 1999 at Reference Office. Well-indexed directory; includes descriptions of associations and organizations. (Also available on WESTLAW.)
• Yearbook of International Organizations, JX1904.A42 at Reference Office. Descriptions of IGOs and NGOs. Note: Gallagher has vol.1 & 3 of the set; Suzzallo Government Publications Reference has the full set.
• International Organizations, http://www.library.nwu.edu/govpub/resource/internat/igo.html. Alphabetical list of IGO websites. Updated regularly.
• International Agencies and Information on the Web, http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/Documents.center/intl.html. Up-to-date list of websites, plus links to other IGO sources.
• Directory of Non-Governmental Organisations Active in Sustainable Development, HC79.E5 D567 1996 at Reserve
• Green Globe Yearbook of International Co-operation on Environment and Development: An Independent Publication on Environment and Development from the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway, HC79.E5G69 at Classified Stacks (1993-date). Part yearbook, part directory. Good way to find addresses for convention secretariats and NGO headquarters.
• The United States Government Manual, JK421.U57, current at Reserve and Reference Office. Organizational charts and descriptions of federal agencies.
• Federal Web Locator, http://www.cilp.org/Fed-Agency/fedwebloc.html. Most comprehensive listing of U.S. government websites.

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Library Catalogs--Tips for Economic Development

• Subject headings for international economic development topics are wide ranging. They include:
  Economic Assistance; Economic Development Projects; Farm ownership; Farms; Land reform, Land tenure; Sustainable agriculture; Technical Assistance. Do not stop with your first search!
• Geographic subheadings can be useful in focusing your search. They include countries (e.g., China, Egypt), regions (e.g., "Asia, Southeastern"), and categories (Developing countries).

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Periodical Indexes Useful for Economic Development Research

• AGRICOLA: Indexes journal articles and book chapters received by National Agricultural Library. Research Databases.
• Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts: Indexes and abstracts journals, monographs, conference proceedings and technical reports, 1978-date. Includes fisheries, aquaculture, sustainable development. Research Databases.
• EconLit: index to world economics literature, from American Economic Association. Research Databases
• Geobase: An index to the international literature of geography, ecology, earth science and marine science. Research Databases.
• GeoRef: The most comprehensive database covering earth science literature, including references to North American geology since 1785, and other areas of the world since 1933. Research Databases.
• Public International Law: A Current Bibliography of Books and Articles: Indexes articles in journals and other collected works, 1975-date. Since 1990, also lists newly published books. Pub. by Max Planck Institute. Several languages, incl. English. Print: K3150.P8 at Reading Room.
• Global newsbank: Contains comprehensive coverage of news summaries, broadcasts and transcripts from hundreds of international sources covering Africa, Asia, Europe, the former Soviet Union, Pacific Rim, Central and South America and the Middle East relating to politics, economics, science & technology, culture and business. Research Databases
• NTIS (National Technical Information Service): An index of government-sponsored scientific and technical research from the U.S. government. (It is not limited to U.S. documents.) Research Databases.
• Water Resources Abstracts: Covers water resources as treated in the life, physical and social sciences, plus related engineering and legal topics, 1967-date. Research Databases.

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Sources of International Law

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Treaty Indexes

• Treaties in Force, JX236 1929.T7 (annual), current at Reference Stacks, Reference Office. State Department list of U.S. treaties and other international acts.
• Igor I. Kavass, United States Treaty Index: 1776-1990 Consolidation, JX231.U58 1991 at Reference Office (includes 1995 revision). Updated by Current Treaty Index, JX231.K392 1998 at Reference Office. Multi-volume set includes subject, country, chronological, and geographical indexes.
• Igor I. Kavass, Hein’s United States Treaties and Other International Agreements Current Service, JX231.K394 at Reference Office. Updates United States Treaty Index. Includes microfiche of treaties and agreements not yet published in TIAS. Fiche is at JX231.K394 at Reading Room Microfiche.
• Christian L. Wiktor, Multilateral Treaty Calendar, 1648-1995, KZ118 .W55 1998 at Reference Office. Chronological list. Includes citations to printed texts in various treaty collections and notes on amendments, modifications, extensions, etc.
• M.J. Bowman & D.J. Harris, Multilateral Treaties: Index and Current Status, JX171.B68 1984 at Reference Office (includes 1995 supplement). Useful little index since it includes important treaties regardless of participants.
• Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary General, JX171.A46U45 current at Reference Office. United Nations list of signatures, ratifications, accessions, reservations, and objections. Also available as part of the United Nations Treaty Collection at http://www.un.org/Depts/Treaty/bible.htm.
• Peter Rohn, World Treaty Index, 2d ed. JX171.R63 1983 at Reference Office. Unique index. Useful, although dated. 5 v.

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Treaty Collections

• United Nations Treaty Series, 1946-date, JX170.U35 at Reference Stacks. Also available as United Nations Treaty Collection, http://www.un.org/Depts/Treaty/. This Internet service of over 30,000 treaties and agreements is currently free, but users must register.
• United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, JX231.A34 at Reference Stacks. Series began in 1950; before that, treaties were published in United States Statutes at Large, KF50.U5 at Reference Stacks. Updated by Treaties and Other International Acts Series (TIAS) pamphlets. Also at JX 231.A34 at Reference Stacks.
• C. Bevans, Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America 1776-1949, JX236 1968.B4 at Reference Stacks.
• International Legal Materials, 1962-date, JX68.I543, current at Reserve and Reference Office. Publishes text of treaties and other international documents, often years before official sources. Available in full from 1980 to date on LEXIS-NEXIS and WESTLAW. Current issue’s Table of Contents available at http://www.asil.org/ILMtoc.htm.
• USTREATIES database on WESTLAW. Includes U.S. Treaties (TIAS) from 1979 forward, Senate Treaty Documents from 1993 forward, and some State Department documents.
• Multilaterals Project, http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multilaterals.html. An "ongoing project designed to make available the texts of international multilateral conventions and other instruments."
• Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators (ENTRI), http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/.

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Updating U.S. Treaties

U.S. Department of State Dispatch, 1990-date, JX232.D57 at Classified Stacks. Continues Department of State Bulletin, 1939-89, JX232.A33 at Classified Stacks. Current information on the status of various treaties. May reprint text of treaty. Also available on Westlaw, LexisNexis, and the Internet, http://www.state.gov/www/publications/dispatch/index.html.

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Custom, Principles, Teachings

• See secondary sources (treatises, yearbooks, journals). Use the periodical indexes and library catalog. Consult annotated bibliographies and research guides, such as Germain’s Transnational Law Research.
• For U.S. perspective, see:
• Restatement of the Law, Third, the Foreign Relations Law of the United States, KF395.F67 1987 at Reference Stacks. Also available on WESTLAW and LEXIS-NEXIS.
• Digest of United States Practice in International Law, 1973-1980, and Cumulative Digest of International Practice in International Law, 1981/88-date, JX21.D54 at Classified Stacks.
• West’s Federal Practice Digest 4th (current) at Reading Room.
• West’s Federal Practice Digest 3d (1975-beginning of 4th) at Reading Room.

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International Cases

• International Law Reports, 1950-date, JX68.A65 at Classified Stacks. Commercial publication that covers decisions of a variety of courts including the International Court of Justice. See especially Consolidated Indexes volume.
• International Court of Justice:
• Pleadings, Oral Arguments, Documents, JX1971.6.A26 at Classified Stacks.
• Reports of Judgments, Advisory Opinions, and Orders, 1947-date, JX1971.6.A27 at Classified Stacks (also on WESTLAW).
• Reports of International Arbitral Awards, 1948-date, JX1991.A25 at Classified Stacks.
• Yearbook, JX1971.6.Y4 at Classified Stacks.
• International Court of Justice http://www.icj-cij.org/. Includes full text of cases since 1996, and the Court’s current docket. See also unofficial site at Cornell, http://www.law.cornell.edu/icj/.
• World Court Digest / prepared by Rainer Hofmann ... [et al.], 1992-date, JX68.W57 1992 at Classified Stacks. Also at http://www.virtual-institute.de/en/wcd/wcd_home.cfm.
• Rudolf Bernhardt. International Court of Justice. Digest of the decisions of the International Court of Justice, 1959-1975 = Repertoire des decisions de la Cour internationale de justice, 1959-1975 = Handbuch der Entscheidungen des Internationalen Gerichtshofs 1959-1975 / bearbeitet im Max-Planck Institut fur Auslandisches Offentliches Recht und Volkerrecht von Rudolf Bernhardt ... [et al.], JX64.F6 Ser.A-1 v.6 at Classified Stacks.
• Rudolf Bernhardt. International Court of Justice. Digest of the decisions of the International Court of Justice, 1976-1985 = Repertoire des decisions de la Cour internationale de justice, 1976-1985 / bearbeitet von Rudolf Bernhardt ... [et al.], JX64.F6 Ser. A-1, v.7 at Classified Stacks.

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United Nations

• Generally
• Basic Facts about the United Nations, JX1977.A37 B3, current at Reference Office.
• Edmund Jan Osm�nczyk, The Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Relations, JX1977.O8213 1990 at Reference Office.
• Yearbook of the United Nations, JX1977.A37Y4 at Classified Stacks.
• Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law, 1997-date, KZ21.M39 at Classified Stacks.
• Documents
• The UN produces an overwhelming number of documents each year. There are several types of UN documents, most notably sales publications and mimeograph/masthead ("working") documents. The Law Library selectively purchases in sales publications, which can be found in the online catalog.
• The Government Publications Division of the Suzzallo/Allen Libraries is a UN depository; it receives most of the working documents. These documents are invaluable to the researcher, but can be difficult to access and slow to arrive. They are not accessible through the online catalog, but through a variety of print and electronic indexes, in particular AccessUN, and are organized by UN call numbers. For more information about the UN working documents, see United Nations Documentation Research Guide, http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/.
• AccessUN, 1991-date, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/. Index of UN official records, resolutions, reports, proceedings and studies, and documents from selected specialized agencies. Site is UW restricted. Suzzallo subscribes to a microfiche collection of documents indexed, housed in the Microform/Newspaper Division. Suzzallo Government Publications also has a CD ROM version, Index to United Nations Publications, covering 1983-date. The CD ROM is commonly called the "Readex" CD ROM (after the name of the producer).
• UN Info Quest (UN-I-QUE), http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/unique. Provides quick access to symbols and sales numbers of tens of thousands of selected UN documents from 1946 to date. Does not give full bibliographic citation. Created by the UN Reference Librarians to answer frequently asked questions.
• The UN has quite a few specialized agencies whose documents are not distributed through the depository program and do not appear in the standard indexes. Suzzallo/Government Publications collects some and maintains card files for each agency. Many UN agencies have websites; to look for a site, try one of the comprehensive listings of IGOs: International Organizations at http://www.library.nwu.edu/govpub/resource/internat/igo.html or International Agencies and Information on the Web at http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/Documents.center/intl.html.
• United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, http://www.fao.org/.

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Federal Legislative Materials

See http://lib.law.washington.edu/ref/fedleghis.htm.

• The Law Library has a strong collection of Congressional documents. Some documents are in paper, some in microfiche, and some of the older materials are at Suzzallo.
• Congressional documents (reports, prints, hearings) are not individually cataloged, but can be identified using the CIS Congressional Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp/. Congressional Universe indexes documents from 1970 forward. Older material can be identified through the CIS print indexes (KF40 and KF49 at Reference Stacks).
• For a quick overview of an act’s legislative history, check US Code Congressional & Administrative News, KF48 at Reference Stacks. If you are looking for a compiled legislative history of an enacted law, check Sources of Compiled Legislative Histories Z673.A54P8 no. 14 at Reference Office.

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