Legislative HistoriesState & Federal

April 11, 2014Summer Research Boot Camp

Why?

• Summer research surveys of 2Ls and 3Ls

• One of the most common summer research questions at UNH Law

• National surveys of law firm librarians

How do I research NH Legislative History? • Start with the statute (RSA) • History (Westlaw, LexisNexis, free sources etc)

Below is the history from WestlawNext tab. Sometimes it gives you the changes! Other times – to the session laws.

How do I research NH Legislative History? • Use History to obtain session law number and year• Use this to obtain bills, votes, discussion, committee material

• House and Senate Journals at UNH Law (first floor)

• Tip: You are working backwards from RSA (statute) to bill.

How do I research NH Legislative History?

• Need more? State Archives

Other option:New Hampshire State Archives on S. Fruit Street in Concord. More resources than the law school library.

Federal Legislative Histories

• Sources of Compiled Legislative Histories • GAO on WestlawNext • HeinOnline Compiled Legislative Histories • USCCAN (WestlawNext) • Proquest Congressional (CIS in print) • United States Congressional Serial Set (complete)• Print Compilations • History and links on WestlawNext & LexisAdvance • Senate, House, other free gov’t websites (recent only)

Hein can be a lifesaver – complete history in pdf. But not every act gets one.

Get a full list of what is out there. Known knowns vs known unknowns and al that.

Questions

• Ask! • Phone or email at library.law.unh.edu

• Other states? LibGuides, law school websites