HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

Internet links and citations to resources
in the Washington State University Libraries

House: How Our Laws are Made, Revised and Updated by Charles W. Johnson, Parliamentarian, United States House of Representatives.
Paper copy Holland U.S. Docs Y 1.1/7:106-197 (2000). Frequently updated; check Griffin for most recent paper version in WSU Libraries or for a quick link to the electronic copy.

Senate: Enactment of a Law, By Robert B. Dove, Parliamentarian, United States Senate.
Paper copy Holland U.S. Docs Y 1.1/3:97-20 (1982).

Internet Guides

How a Bill Becomes Law Congressional Lexis-Nexis (for WSU users only)
Legislation into Law Duke University Public Documents and Maps Dept.
How a Bill Becomes a Law; Tracing Federal Legislation Georgia State University
How Laws Are Made, a guide for children in grades 6-8.
How Laws are Made, a guide for 9th-12th graders.


Books in the WSU Libraries Collection

House and Senate Explained: the People's Guide to Congress, Ellen Greenberg. (New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1996). Definition of terms and phrases used in the legislative process; includes a chapter on reaching out to legislators.
Hol JK1067 .G74 1996

Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process, Walter J. Oleszek. 5th ed. (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2001). A detailed, definitive guide to how Congress passes laws.
Hol KF4937 .O43 2001

Congress and the Nation (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Service, 1965- ). Covers legislative, presidential, and political activity through a 4-year presidential term. Provides a legislative chronology for each year and major events within topics, e.g., economic policy, law and justice, and foreign policy.
Hol Ref KF49 .C65 v. 1- , 1945-

Congressional Quarterly Almanac (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly News Features, c1948- ). An annual review of congressional action on major issues. Includes glossary of congressional terms, voting analyses, key votes and texts of key documents.
Hol Ref JK1 .C66 v. 4- , 1948- (most recent year at the Reference Desk).

Congressional Deskbook (date) (Alexandria, VA: TheCapitol.Net, Inc., c2000- ). Chapter 8, Legislative Process, pp. 204-297.
Hol Ref JK1021 .C5593.

Tapping the Government Grapevine : the User-friendly Guide to U.S. Government Information Sources, Judith Schiek Robinson. 3rd ed. (Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 1998). Chapter 8, Legislative Information Sources, pp. 89-117.
Hol Ref ZA5055.U6 R63 1998.

Introduction to United States Government Information Sources, Joe Morehead. 6th ed. (Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1999). Chapter 5, Legislative Branch Information Sources, pp. 101-173.
Hol Ref ZA5055.U6 M67 1999.