LibGuides: POLS 110: Introduction to American Politics: Policy Issues & the Legislative Process

Regulations: The Tools to Implement Policies

CQ Researcher
A collection of weekly research reports exploring current social and political issues.

ProQuest Congressional
ProQuest Congressional allows you to explore Congress in action with the most comprehensive collection of Congressional publications from 1789-present available. You can perform in-depth research in public policy, historical, and legal areas of interest. Users will find indexing and abstracts for House and Senate reports and documents, Congressional committee prints and published hearings, information on members and committees, topic pages covering key concepts and policies, as well as the full text of many House and Senate documents, Hearings, Bills, nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports, Executive Orders, and more.
Trends & Policy
Trends & Policy connects policies implemented by the U.S. government with the data-driven results and trends of those policies and provides context with analytical reports and news articles. Presented in a unique interface designed specifically to help researchers make key connections and discoveries, this product includes timelines, topic pages and data tools.
Legislative Insight
Click on "Legislative Process" to view a flow chart of the legislative process.

CQ Almanac, 1945-2020 (Congressional Quarterly Almanac)
The Almanac provides "narrative accounts of every major piece of legislation that lawmakers considered during a congressional session." Unfortunately, the publisher no longer produces this series; coverage ended in 2020.
CQ Press: Vital Statistics on American Politics
"The definitive source for data and analysis on American politics, with in-depth coverage of the three branches of government, lobbying and special interest groups, campaigns and elections, political parties, and public opinion."
Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process
"Provides an insightful look at the tension between Congress as a lawmaking institution and as a collection of re-election-minded politicians."
Elections A to Z
"[I]nsight into how campaigns and elections, the hallmark of any democracy, are conducted in the United States."
Congress A to Z
"[I]nsight into the national legislature, its organization, processes, major legislation, and history."
Washington Information Directory
"[T]opically organized, [...] with a brief paragraph describing what the organization (whether government or non-governmental) does related to that topic."

'Vital Statistics on Congress' - The Brookings Institution
"Vital Statistics began as a joint effort undertaken by Thomas E. Mann of Brookings and Norman J. Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, in collaboration with Michael Malbin of the Campaign Finance Institute. The datasets were published in print until 2013 when the project migrated online for the first time."

The House Office of the Legislative Counsel Guide to Legislative Drafting.
This online guide provides "an overview of the drafting style and conventions used by the House Office of the Legislative Counsel in order to facilitate communication and collaboration between the attorneys of the Office and their clients."
Quick Guide to Legislative Drafting
Highlights of the Quick Guide include:
Key drafting questions to consider
- What is the problem to be solved?
- What is the scope of the policy—To whom or what does it apply?
- Administration— Who will be responsible for carrying out the policy?
- Enforcement—What if the policy is not followed?
- Timing—When should the policy take effect?
- How does the policy relate to existing law?
Constitutional Authority Statements
"Clause 7(c) of House Rule XII provides that a bill or joint resolution may not be introduced unless it is accompanied by a statement citing the power granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the bill or joint resolution."

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